Zion and His Brother 2009

Ilana, Ronit Elkabetz, a divorced mother, raises her two sons in a modest apartment. The older is Meir, Ofer Hayoun, a troubled, aggressive 17-year-old, and the younger is Zion, Reuven Badalov, 14, who forms a close bond with his brother. Their only real family figure is Ilana’s partner, Eli, Tzahi Grad, a car wash owner who provides financial support. The boys’ father is largely absent, limited to the occasional payphone calls Meir makes to him.

Meir’s relationship with his girlfriend, Michelle, Liya Leyn, who lives with her grandmother in the neighborhood, is marked by contempt and aggression. Meir harbors resentment toward Eli, despite Eli’s attempts to help, including offering him a job at the car wash.

Zion and Meir are inseparable, spending most of their time together. One day, while swimming in the sea, Zion’s sneakers are stolen. Later, he spots them on an Ethiopian boy named Solomon, Meir Samo, who refuses to give them back. Zion seeks help from Meir, who confronts Solomon with brutal force. The confrontation turns violent, and Solomon flees in fear, only to be struck by a speeding train.

Michelle decides to leave Meir, and when he finds her with Zion, his rage boils over, and he threatens to kill her.

Meanwhile, Solomon’s father arrives at the school, desperately asking the students if they’ve seen his son. Zion remains silent, fearful after Meir threatens him to keep quiet.

The tension between Meir and Eli reaches a breaking point when Meir sabotages Eli’s car, leading to a violent physical altercation. Eli, frustrated and hurt, leaves the house but eventually returns after Zion pleads with him.

Concerned for Zion’s future, Ilana and Eli decide to send him to a boarding school until Eli finishes constructing their new apartment on Mount Carmel. Zion begins packing his belongings, but before he can leave, Meir arrives, and a heated argument quickly spirals into a fight. Meir chases Zion to the train tracks, catching him and pinning him down. As a train approaches, Meir begins choking Zion, but suddenly stops, haunted by memories of what happened to Solomon.