Arts & Entertainment

Movie Review:  “Follow Me” (+)
         
 A wonderful documentary on the life of Yonatan (Yoni) Netanyahu, the older brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin (Bibi) Netanyahu.
 
         Yoni was a commander of the Special Forces of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) who died during Operation Entebbe in Uganda in 1976.  That mission involved the rescue of about 100 Israeli Jews who were among the 248 passengers on an Air France flight hijacked by Palestinian terrorists.  All but the Jews were freed by those terrorists.  The terrorists declared that unless a number of Palestinian prisoners held in different countries were released, the hostages held at Entebbe Airport would be executed.  
 
          After zeroing in on that event, the film flashes back to the childhood days of the three Netanyahu sons:  Yoni, Bibi and Iddo, now an Israeli physician.   Through photographs and home movies, we see them growing up.
 
          Yoni was always the special kid.  We learn about his adult life from his beautiful letters to his mother and father which are read aloud.  We also learn of his marriage to his long-time girlfriend Tuti in 1967, whom he divorced, and of his girlfriend, Bruria, at the time of his death.  
 
          We are shown clips of Yoni in action during the 1967 and 1973 wars, and we hear his letters read aloud describing his battle experiences.  We also see films of him as commander of the special unit sent to Entebbe, an event similar to the U.S. Navy SEALs who captured and shot Osama bin Laden.  
 
          It was fascinating to watch those films and see Israel’s leaders in action:  Yitzhak Rabin, Shimon Peres, Moshe Dayan and Ehud Barak.  Interviews conducted with individuals for the film are superb.  One moving interview in particular is Bibi’s description of having to go to his father’s home to tell him of Yoni’s death and recalling how his father cried out in pain and horror.    
 
          “Follow Me” is an extraordinary film that you won’t forget.   Supporters of Israel will be thrilled to watch the details of the successful Entebbe mission and at the same time will be saddened by Yoni’s death.   
 
          The New York Times film reviewer, Neil Genzlinger, praised the film and stated that in Yoni’s writing, “even the most unpleasant of subjects took on the feel of poetry.”  They certainly did.  However, Genzlinger also wrote that the material was served up “with an excess of treacly music.”  I don’t agree.  The original and superb musical score enhanced the film, as music generally does.  Go see and hear for yourself.  The experience will be emotional and unforgettable.  The Netanyahu family – the father recently died – are exemplars of Israel’s best.