Time of Favor (Ha-Hesder). DVD. Format: PAL

Available in PAL (Europe) system ONLY

Israel, 2000

Length: 90 min.

Genre: Romance, Thriller

Director: Joseph Cedar

Starring: Aki Avni, Tinker Bell,  Assi Dayan, Idan Alterman,  Samurel Calderon, Shimon Mimran, Uri Ran-Klausner, Micha Selektar, Amnon Volf

Language: Hebrew

Subtitles:  English 

Menachem (Aki Avni) studies in a yeshiva on the West Bank led by the revered Rabbi Meltzer (Assi Dayan). He is a dedicated and highly respected army officer in a unit composed entirely of Orthodox members from the yeshiva. Rabbi Meltzer -- complex, profound and in harmony with his faith -- unfortunately is looked upon warily by the military officers as a fanatic that could lead the company to dangerous ground. He wants Pini (Edan Alterman), the prized pupil in his class and Menachem's best friend, to marry his daughter Michal (Tinkerbell). But as Pini courts Michal, Menachem, strong-willed and passionate, falls in love with her.

With trepidation, Michal and Menachem come to grips with their feelings, leaving Pini feeling betrayed by both. As this hurtful love triangle evolves, a shocking scheme comes into play to resume control of the Arab holy sites on the Temple Mount in the center of Jerusalem -- through tunnels underneath the Mount.

Pini, in an extreme act of vengeance, tells Itamar (Micha Selektar) one of Menachem's soldiers, that their leader is organizing a secret plan to destroy the Dome of the Rock, and blackmails him into stealing explosives from the company which they will plant in the tunnels. The Secret Service and army officials, highly suspicious of the Rabbi and of his students involved in the military unit, become aware of the plan and suddenly arrest Menachem. Charged with planning the bombings, Menachem is violently interrogated by the Secret Service about the missing explosives and accused of terrorism. While battling to prove his innocence, Menachem is forced to weigh his alliances, his conscience, and everything he has ever believed in.