Movie Review - Incitement

Incitement ***½ (out of 5) (NR) This Israeli thriller mixes known facts with speculation about events leading up to the 1995 assassination of President Yitzhak Rabin that derailed a pending peace agreement (the Oslo Accords) with the Palestinians and their regional allies. Surprisingly to most US viewers, there’s little involvement of Palestinians in this event. The assassin, Yigal Amir, became a right-wing Jewish zealot, as the film tells the story from his point of view. Israel’s relevant conflict - then and since - was internal, rather than specifically with its surrounding foes. Ultra-Orthodox fundamentalist believed their scriptures proved God’s clear intent for Jews to own the disputed lands, and that Rabin - a more secular liberal - was committing heresy by agreeing to return some of the territory acquired from previous wars in exchange for promises/assurances of peace.

The film seems brutally honest in showing the depth and breadth of that schism between segments of the same religion and nation. Besides the historical significance, it evokes comparisons to the Sunni - Shia rift in Islam, and the gulf between the “Religious Right” and the various components of the left and center in this country and throughout most of Europe. These (and other) internecine conflicts have variably simmered and raged for centuries, including our own problems in separating religion from governance in so many ways, despite the Constitutional imperative to do so.

As a movie, this one maintains high levels of tension and suspense, despite being long on dialog, compared to the action. We hear many macrocosm debates and justifications between religious literalists and more inclusive members of the faith. There are also personal conflicts on whether and why it might be acceptable for any Jew to kill another, and how this particular young man will reconcile the swarm of pressures for and against committing this act.

Performances are excellent all around. Locations and vintage news clips add to the gritty realities of that time and place, engulfing us more in the unfolding drama. The film has garnered numerous nominations and awards, both in Israel and the US for the film, several actors, cinematography and editing. It delivers solid insights into an important point in time, with ripple effects we’re still feeling today... and, sadly, in all likelihood for the indefinite future. (2/21/20)