As part of this year’s Jewish Film Festival, two documentaries will be screened on Tuesday under the banner “The Power and Passion of Sports.” “My Champion” is the story of Merhav Mohar, an Israeli boxer who comes to the United States to chase his dreams. “Tackling Peace” highlights a newly-formed Australian rules football team made up of Palestinians and Israelis.
“For me it’s not so much a movie,” said Mohar, 28, by phone from Israel. “It’s like looking back at a memory, but actually seeing that memory, actually reliving that memory.”
| If you go |
| The 22nd Annual Jewish Film Festival |
| When and where: Through Sunday, featuring 47 films from 15 countries at multiple venues |
| Info: Ticket prices vary, with some screenings free, evening and weekend screenings $11, and opening and closing night $25. “The Power & Passion of Sports” is 7 p.m. Tuesday at AFI Silver Spring, $11. For more information, visit wjff.org. |
“There were bigger, more important things on my plate than the movie,” Mohar added. “I never really knew what would come of it. I didn’t really know what I was getting into.”
Mohar grew up in Kenya and moved to Israel at the age of 12. After finding success in karate and kick boxing, Mohar turned to boxing for a new challenge at the age of 18.
“My Champion,” directed by Ari Davidovich, documents Mohar’s struggles from Israel to New York, Las Vegas and Atlanta as he pursues a boxing title. But boxing is a dangerous sport, and things don’t always turn out as hoped.
Boxing, and fighting in general, is not hugely popular in Israel.
“The traditional Jewish mother wanted her son to grow up an educated young man,” said Mohar, who is now retired from the ring and works as a physical fitness trainer. “A good Jewish mom wants her son to be a good boy and go to school and get a degree, get married and have a lot of kids.”
“Tackling Peace” is the brainchild of Tanya Oziel, an Australian who hatched a plan to create an Australian rules football team made up of Israelis and Palestinians to help facilitate peace.
Director Marc Radomsky was brought on board to document the formation of the team and its participation in the “footy” world cup.
Radomsky visited Israel multiple times to film the creation of what became known as the Peace Team, made up of 13 Israelis and 13 Palestinians. The film follows these players as they get to known each other while learning a sport none of them are familiar with. The team ultimately visits Australia to participate in the world cup.
Filmed in 2008, “Tackling Peace” shows both the conflict and success of the Peace Team.
“If you want to have people believe the journey or have a real experience, then you need to show the points on the curve on that journey, the warts and all,” Radomsky said.
A poignant scene in the film deals with the dietary restrictions of the team, namely working around Ramadan for the Muslim members, and ensuring kosher meals for the Jewish members.
“It’s a film about communication, or the failure there of, and the ultimate success of that in the end,” Radomsky said. “There’s a bit of hope in there. I think there’s a lot of hope in there actually.”
