Awards

Academy Award Nominee, 1984
Best Foreign Language Film

Venice Film Festival, 1984
International Critics Prize

Israeli Academy Awards, 1984
Best Movie of the Year

Beyond the Walls tells the story of an unusual friendship between two prisoners, a Palestinian Arab and an Israeli Jew, who manage to unite their respective groups in a revolt against the manipulative prison authorities. Barbash's film works both as a brutal, compelling prison story and an allegorical tale about the power of cooperation between Arabs and Jews.

The film proved extremely popular in Israel and was the first feature screened in the Knesset. Followed in 1992 by Beyond the Walls II.

"Hard-hitting... a harsh, realistic portrayal of the best and worst within Israeli society."
- Amy Kronish, World Cinema: Israel

"Beyond the Walls is impressive photographically, and makes a tremendous emotional impact on the viewer."
-Helena Flusfeder, Jewish Forward

"This powerful drama... is one of the best films to come out of Israel in some time."
-Variety

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The National Center For Jewish Film Brandeis University, Lown 102, MS053, Waltham MA 02454 P: (781) 899 7044, F: (781) 736 2070

Beyond the Walls

Israel, 1984, 103 minutes, color
Hebrew and Arabic with English subtitles
Directed by Uri Barbash

Public Exhibition 35mm Rental available