The Debt (HaHov, HaChov) is a 2007 Israeli drama-thriller film about three retired Mossad agents confronted by a challenge from their past.
How long can a Mossad agent live in fear?
In 1964, Rachel Brenner is one of three Mossad agents who capture ‘The Surgeon of Birkenau’ a monstrous Nazi war criminal. In their safe house in Berlin, ‘The Surgeon’ engages the young agents in a psychological duel ending in his escape. Aware that this will be seen by the world as a national failure for the new state of Israel, the three agents decide to fabricate his death and unwittingly return home as heroes.
In 1997, more than thirty years later, ‘The Surgeon’ suddenly resurfaces in the Ukraine, determined to confess to his crimes against humanity. The three agents now need to terminate ‘The Surgeon’ to protect the lie that their country’s history and their own lives, has built on.
The original film that inspired a Hollywood remake starring Helen Mirren & Sam Worthington!
Subtitled.
Review
"..The Debt isn't a typical Holocaust story; it is about the consequences of deception, not by the Nazi's, but by the ‘good guys’ for somewhat unselfish reasons. Even though they benefit personally from the lie with fame and wealth, I don't believe these Mossad agents cover up Rainer's escape only to protect their reputations, I think they did it for Israel and its citizens as well. However, living with this lie is far more difficult than I think even they imagined. Their lives never quite recover, because they are always in a position of being exposed as frauds, this causes internal conflicts that takes away any sense of shalom (peace)…
This is the first feature film by writer/director Assaf Bernstein and he does a beautiful job with his central character Rachel, skillfully using the strong supporting cast around her…The Debt is a wonderful movie that has a quiet intensity boiling just under the surface. It isn't a noisy or busy film; still, it manages to keep you on the edge of your seat for the entire time. So, if you're looking for a shoot 'em up, actiony, Holocaust film, you may be disappointed. I suggest however that you go into this experience realizing it is a film built around characters and their stories, making for a satisfying and emotional 97 minute ride." DVD Verdict