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Documentary

Advocate (2020): Cast, Ratings & Box Office

Advocate (2020) movie poster

Advocate is a 2020 documentary directed by Philippe Bellaiche and Rachel Leah Jones, starring Lea Tsemel, Benjamin Netanyahu and Harry Reasoner. It runs 1 hour 54 minutes and earned $16,942 worldwide. Critics gave it 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10.

IMDb rating
7.2/10
Rotten Tomatoes
100%
worldwide gross
$16.9K
Echo Score
80
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Advocate (2020) movie poster
Released
Runtime
1h 54m (114 min)
Genre
Documentary
Original language
Hebrew
After the credits
No No extra scene
The story

What Is Advocate About?

The premise of Advocate without spoilers.

This moving documentary profiles Lea Tsemel, a Jewish-Israeli lawyer known for her tireless defense of Palestinian political prisoners. For decades, she has challenged Israeli legal and societal norms, advocating for human rights and often facing significant controversy. While some Israelis question her methods, Palestinians view her as a steadfast ally in their fight for justice, highlighting the complex and often fraught landscape of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Advocate Themes & Keywords

· 35 tags
  • disparate sentencing
  • judicial bias
  • palestinian
  • israeli occupation
  • arab israeli conflict
  • criminal justice system
  • female lawyer
  • legal system
  • defendant
  • split screen
  • hidden identity
  • media bias
+23 more
  • one word title
  • two directors
  • interview
  • animated sequence
  • student protest
  • female protagonist
  • trial
  • lawyer
  • jew
  • jewish
  • israel
  • palestine
  • muslim
  • boy
  • news report
  • jewish woman
  • israel palestine conflict
  • israeli apartheid
  • israeli history
  • legal history
  • israeli palestinian conflict
  • terrorism
  • terrorist
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Cast & crew

Advocate Cast

Lea Tsemel leads the cast, with Benjamin Netanyahu and Harry Reasoner. Directed by Philippe Bellaiche and Rachel Leah Jones; 14 actors are credited in all.

From the directors

More from Philippe Bellaiche and Rachel Leah Jones

One more film directed by Philippe Bellaiche and Rachel Leah Jones: Advocate.

Ratings

Advocate Reviews & Ratings

Critics gave Advocate 100% on Rotten Tomatoes and 77 on Metacritic, and IMDb users rate it 7.2/10. Our Echo Score gives it 80/100, strongest in art & craft (85) and weakest in rewatch factor (70).

80 /100

Advocate Echo Score Breakdown

Advocate offers a compelling exploration of human rights advocacy that balances nuance with engagement. Across reviews, critics highlight the documentary’s in-depth portrayal of Lea Tsemel’s moral complexities and the film’s purposeful pacing through courtroom footage and personal interactions. Observers note the film’s ability to maintain viewer interest through restrained musical cues and innovative visual techniques that underscore its thematic weight. Overall, Advocate emerges as a thoughtfully crafted documentary that sustains its impact through both its intellectual rigor and emotional depth.

Our own 0–100 rating, built from five aspects: art, character, story, the sensory experience and how well a film rewatches.

  • Art & Craft 85

    In terms of direction and visual execution, Advocate demonstrates a deliberate and innovative approach that heightens its documentary appeal. Critics point to the use of minimal musical accompaniment and split-screen courtroom footage as evidence of focused directorial intent. The fly-on-the-wall cinéma vérité scenes are noted for their unfiltered realism and composition. These elements collectively establish a cohesive visual style that underpins the film’s investigative tone.

  • Character & Emotion 80

    In terms of character portrayal, Advocate offers a multifaceted study of its central figure that resonates emotionally. The film’s exploration of Lea Tsemel’s professional determination and personal sacrifices conveys depth and complexity. Critics emphasize the textured depiction of her moral dilemmas and interactions with clients, underscoring her human dimension. This nuanced character portrayal anchors the narrative and invites sustained viewer empathy.

  • Story & Flow 78

    When it comes to narrative structure, Advocate maintains measured pacing and thematic coherence throughout its runtime. Observers highlight the film’s balance between courtroom proceedings and personal vignettes, noting an engaging flow that avoids procedural monotony. While some point to unresolved contradictions in Tsemel’s methods, the documentary’s deliberate sequencing sustains interest. As a result, the storytelling feels purposeful and consistently engaging.

  • Sensory Experience 75

    Regarding sensory presentation, Advocate employs a restrained soundscape and cohesive visual grammar to reinforce its documentary ethos. Reviews note the minimal score usage, which allows ambient courtroom and dialogue-driven moments to take precedence. The visual consistency, highlighted by judicious editing and a restrained color palette, bolsters the film’s immersive quality. Overall, the sensory design supports rather than distracts, enhancing the viewer’s focus on the subject matter.

  • Rewatch Factor 70

    In terms of rewatch appeal, Advocate offers lasting resonance through its thematic depth and methodical pacing. Critics suggest that the film’s layered examination of legal and ethical issues rewards repeated viewings by revealing nuanced insights. The documentary’s understated style and measured progression lend themselves to further reflection on its subject. Ultimately, the film’s combination of intellectual rigor and emotional substance encourages subsequent engagements.

Box office

Advocate Box Office

Advocate grossed $16,942 worldwide.

2020 box office

Worldwide gross

$16.9K

US & Canada
$16.9K
Videos

Advocate Trailers & Videos

The trailer of Advocate.

Advocate - Official Trailer
Details

Advocate Also Known As

8 alternative titles, including “Lea Tsemel” and “Orehet Din”.

Also known as
  • Lea Tsemel
  • Orehet Din
  • Defensora
  • Адвокат
  • Advokátka
  • 魔鬼辩护人
  • Oikeudenpalvelija
  • Lea Tsemel, avocate

Seen Advocate?

FAQ

Advocate FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime

Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office, ratings, post-credit scenes and language of Advocate, each answered in a sentence.

How long is Advocate?

Advocate runs 1 hour 54 minutes (114 minutes).

When was Advocate released?

Advocate was released on January 3, 2020.

Who directed Advocate?

Advocate was directed by Philippe Bellaiche and Rachel Leah Jones.

More films by Philippe Bellaiche

Who is in the cast of Advocate?

Advocate stars Lea Tsemel, Benjamin Netanyahu and Harry Reasoner, among 14 credited actors.

How much did Advocate make at the box office?

Advocate grossed $16,942 worldwide.

How is Advocate rated?

Advocate has 7.2/10 on IMDb, 100% on Rotten Tomatoes, 77 on Metacritic and 53% on TMDB.

Does Advocate have a post-credit scene?

No. Advocate has no extra scene during or after the credits.

What language is Advocate in?

The original language of Advocate is Hebrew.

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