Close to Home locates the Israel-Palestine conflict within a social matrix involving the personal lives of two young women serving their compulsory duty in the Israeli army. Mirit is the quintessential goody-two-shoes, respectful of and obedient to her superiors. On the opposite end of the spectrum, Smadar is grappling with ways to reconcile army service with her own desire for rebellion. The two are thrown into the same unit, which is responsible for shaking down Arabs on the streets of Jerusalem for ID cards. But Smadar, like most of the other women in the unit, is more interested in hanging out than patrolling. This laxity is the source of her main conflict with Mirit, and it remains unresolved until a bomb explosion near their patrol route creates a tenuous bond of friendship between the two. After the bombing, Mirit and Smadar are given a plum assignment checking bags at the entrance to a fancy hotel, but Mirit's dalliance with a rakish Italian guest ultimately lands her a short stay in a military prison. As the film's end draws near, Mirit grows concerned that Smadar's rebellious nature is rubbing off on her, and a falling out occurs. In this searing study of Israeli women, Mirit and Smadar are individuals whose passions and interests are divorced from the Israel-Palestine conflict. In this sense, compulsory army service is seen as just another unpleasant hurdle to clear in order to start the adult portion of their lives.

Directed by

Vidi Bilu and Dalia Hager