AFS Essential Cinema: CLOSE TO HOME (KAROV LA BAHIT) March 3, 2009

Two young women, Smadar and Mirit, are unhappily experiencing their year of compulsory military service. Rebellious and adventurous Smadar can't stand Mirit, who is introverted and frightened. The negative feelings are mutual, but they are put on the same patrol in Jerusalem, their hometown. Their job is to stop people they assume to be Palestinian and write their ID information on forms. It all seems rather pointless to Smadar. Being 18 they also have other interests, some of which intrude on their patrol duty – visits to a hair stylist, looking at hats in a store window, and flirting with attractive guys. The tensions between their military duties and their own human inclinations and temptations are exacerbated by the dangerous environment in which suicide bombers could strike at any moment. The Israeli-Palestinian conflict restrains the young women to have normal lives and pursuits.

Official Website: http://www.austinfilm.org/film/close_to_home