Mostar Round-Trip

Mostar Round-Trip is a 73 min. Israeli documentary film, directed and produced by David Fisher, produced in 2011, that deals with the filmmaker's son, who goes to study in an international high-school, part of the United World College Organization, in Mostar, Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Plot Summary

A year after 17-year-old Yuval leaves home in Israel to attend the United World College in Mostar, Bosnia-Herzegovina, filmmaker David Fisher, his father, follows. During three Round-Trips to Mostar, Yuval’s relationships unfold: between him and his father, his Israeli peers and his Spanish girlfriend, Neus. These stories are set against the backdrop of this college, situated on what used to be the frontline between the Croatians and the Bosniaks, during the civil war that ended in 1995. Although Yuval is far from home, this actually brings father and son closer together. Their talks reveal great honesty, maturity and openness towards one another. Yuval’s roommate is Salam, an Israeli Arab, with whom he holds passionate political debates. Salam is a “playboy” and a charmer, so it’s no wonder Yuval brings him a sugar cube to bed, one morning after a bitter fight they had over Middle Eastern politics. With them are also Niv, who talks very honestly about his encounter with Arab peers, stating that back home the word “Arab” is used in a derogative way amongst his friends, a fact he is now ashamed of; and Niva – she just wants to be an actress and doesn’t know what to expect from her army service. The film is filled with John Hughes-like scenes of the life of these youngsters at the college, but with the ironic setting of a city that a lot of the time reminds them of home. Yuval’s affair with Neus is heart-warming but doomed - because of Yuval’s impending army service. This is during the Gaza War back home and Yuval voices his apprehension about the way the Israeli army is operating. At the end of this journey, David, as well as the viewers, will understand that Yuval and his peers' intense two years in Mostar have actually prepared them for a mature and challenging life as grownups.

Production

The film was shot in video and is available in Digital Betacam and was supported by the Second Authority for TV and Radio and The Makor Foundation for Israeli films. Scriptwriter, director and producer: David Fisher; Associate producer: Irit Shimrat; Camera: Edan Sasson, David Fisher, Haris Zugor, Goran Kresic; Editor: Hadas Ayalon; Original score: Amnon Fisher; World Sales: Philippa Kowarsky, Cinephil With the participation of: Yuval Fisher, Salam Sa’adi, Neus Rodeta, Niva Alush, Niv Bahr, Yuli Urbach, Amitai Ben-Abba, Vera Pluemer

Reactions and reviews

The film was selected to the Jerusalem International Film Festival 2011, The Montreal World Film Festival 2011, The Auburn International Film Festival for Children and Young Adults in Australia 2011 and the Tel Aviv Youth and Children Film Festival 2011.

"The film is unique in the way that Fisher not only observes his maturing son and their strengthening relationship, but also the way in which a documentary film is woven and constructed until it reaches its final shape and form... A must see." Yehuda Stav, Yedioth Aharonot

" Almost a dozen years after his Love Inventory (2000,) in which he told the world about his family and its problems, made the festival rounds, David Fisher is back behind the camera, and once again it is a family affair through and through. The film can't help stumbling over some of the most relevant and often disturbing issues of the moment." Dan Fainaru, Screen International

"David Fisher’s latest documentary is a complex story about how the filmmaker’s son decided to go to school on what used to be the frontline between Bosnians and Croatians." Hannah Brown, Jerusalem Post

External links

• on Fisher Features' website
• the film's trailer on Youtube
• on the Jerusalem IFF website
• the Auburn Festival website
• interview with David Fisher in the Jerusalem Post
• about the film on the Reelisor Documentary Network
• the UWC in Mostar website
• the film's page on the Montreal World FF website
• the film's theme song written and performed by Amnon Fisher
• Dan Fainaru writes about the film in Screen International
• the film's page on the Exground Filmfest website