Menemsha Film Review Series pt. 1 - Live and Become

Live and Become is one of those rare films that is truly identifiable across the globe. No matter what color your skin is, what language you speak, what economic status you come from etc... We have all contemplated the subject matter that this movie bases itself around: Identity. And we have all asked ourselves the questions this movie attempts to answer. Who am I? Where do I come from? What am I supposed to be and how do I become it?

The film follows Schlomo, an Ethiopian Christian masquerading as a Jew upon orders from his mother, in hopes he be transported to Israel and live a better life. It is broken up into three parts of Schlomo’s life and is very effectively played by three different actors (Moshe Agazai, Mosche Abebe, and Sirak M. Sabahat).

After a troubled stay at an Israeli boarding school (fights, attempts to run away etc.) Schlomo is adopted by “a very left wing family,” a proud father, a standoffish mother, a loud rude son, and quiet polite daughter. Here he has difficulty accepting them as his family but eventually does so, supplemented by secret prayers and letters sent back to his birth mother with the help of his Ethiopian Rabbi-mentor.

Cut to 7 years later where Schlomo (now 17) is a well assimilated adolescent and is going through all the inevitable ups and downs that come with the age. There are girl problems; his girlfriend’s father doesn’t approve of him because he is black. He must prove himself to the community; which he does by winning what the film calls “Controversies,” a debate of sorts in order to show ones knowledge of the Torah. And there are family problems; as his relationship with his adopted mother grows stronger, so do feelings of losing his birth mother.

After another 8 year jump into the future Schlomo is now a grown, mature 25 year old Med Student. He is studying abroad but does a good job of staying in touch with those whom he loves. Upon return he is married. This then poses the question will he reveal his secret to his bride? This, paired with an ending that brings the story full circle, will make this 2 hour and 15 minute movie well worth the time spent watching.

You can watch the trailer here.

Or, purchase the film here.