A Holocaust survivor family navigates financial hardship, ideological pressure to emigrate, and a sudden crisis that ultimately reinforces their bond to Israel.
Story Structure — 4 Plot Phases
The Weight of Survival
Hard-pressed Holocaust survivors Menachem and Rosa struggle financially in Israel. Their friend Maurice Greenspan arrives with an offer to emigrate to Canada, planting seeds of doubt.
Key Events
Introduction of Greenberg Family — Introduce hard-pressed Holocaust survivors Menachem and Rosa. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Home
Maurice's Emigration Proposal — Maurice urges the couple to leave Israel for a better life in Canada. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Greenberg Home
Financial Struggles Emerge — Haim observes growing domestic tension due to money problems. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Home
Secret Courtship Begins — Maurice secretly woos Rosa while pushing for emigration.
Location: Home
Secrets and Divisions
Maurice secretly woos Rosa while pushing for emigration, causing domestic tension. Meanwhile, Miri's infatuation with Schultz and Haim's friendship provide fleeting distractions from the mounting pressure.
Key Events
Secret Courtship Begins — Maurice secretly woos Rosa while pushing for emigration.
Location: Home
Miri's Infatuation — Ten-year-old Miri becomes captivated by Schultz's charm. Characters: Miri GoldfarbLocation: Street
Haim's Best Friendship — Haim spends time with his best friend Shai Adelson.
Location: Kibbutz
Taxi Driver's Support — The neighbor and friend offers companionship during hard times. Characters: Taxi Driver, Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Neighborhood
Ideological Clash — Open debate highlights the conflict between staying and emigrating.
Location: Kibbutz
Ideological Clash and Crisis
Uncle Lazer's arrival sparks a debate on Zionism versus exile. The family's fragile state is shattered when a sudden medical crisis threatens one of the children, forcing a reckoning.
Key Events
Ideological Clash — Open debate highlights the conflict between staying and emigrating.
Location: Kibbutz
Family Division Deepens — Parents argue over Maurice's influence and financial pressure. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Home
Miri's School Life — Miri continues to admire Schultz, distracting from family issues. Characters: Miri GoldfarbLocation: School
Haim's Growing Anxiety — Haim worries about the stability of his family and sister. Characters: Miri GoldfarbLocation: Home
Maurice's Persistent Pressure — Maurice intensifies his campaign to move the family to Canada. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Home
The Sudden Crisis — A severe crisis threatens the well-being of one of the children. Characters: Miri Goldfarb, Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Hospital
Roots and Resolution
The emergency brings the family together, revealing the emptiness of Maurice's promises. They reject the emigration plan, choosing to stay in Israel and rebuild their lives with renewed unity.
Key Events
The Sudden Crisis — A severe crisis threatens the well-being of one of the children. Characters: Miri Goldfarb, Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Hospital
Medical Emergency — Family gathers in panic as the child's health deteriorates. Characters: Miri Goldfarb, Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Hospital
Maurice's Departure — Maurice leaves, realizing his emigration plan is ill-timed.
Location: Hospital
Family Reconciliation — Shared trauma brings the parents and children closer together. Characters: Menachem Goldfarb, Miri GoldfarbLocation: Hospital
Uncle Lazer's Encouragement — Uncle Lazer reinforces the value of resilience and staying put. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Hospital
Decision to Stay — The family collectively decides to remain in Israel despite hardships. Characters: Menachem Goldfarb, Miri GoldfarbLocation: Home
Rejecting Emigration — They formally decline Maurice's offer to move to Canada. Characters: Menachem GoldfarbLocation: Home
Newfound Resolve — The family embraces their future in Israel with renewed strength. Characters: Menachem Goldfarb, Miri GoldfarbLocation: Home
Life Continues — Daily life resumes with the family united and grounded. Characters: Menachem Goldfarb, Miri Goldfarb, Taxi DriverLocation: Neighborhood
Story Breakdown
Family Hardship — The Greenbergs face severe financial difficulties as Holocaust survivors in Israel.
Financial Struggles — Daily survival costs strain the household budget.
Domestic Tension — Money problems cause frequent arguments between parents.
Emigration Temptation — Maurice Greenspan arrives with an offer to leave Israel for Canada.
Maurice's Proposal — He urges the couple to seek a better life abroad.
Secret Courtship — Maurice secretly woos Rosa to sway her decision.
Youthful Distractions — The children experience their own emotional worlds amid family stress.
Miri's Infatuation — Ten-year-old Miri becomes captivated by Schultz's charm.
Haim's Friendship — Haim finds solace in his bond with best friend Shai.
Ideological Conflict — The debate over staying versus leaving divides the community.
Uncle Lazer's Arrival — He represents steadfast commitment to the kibbutz.
Sudden Crisis — A severe emergency threatens the well-being of one child.
Medical Emergency — The child's health deteriorates rapidly, causing panic.
Family Panic — Parents and siblings rush to the hospital in fear.
Climactic Decision — The crisis forces the family to confront their future.
Rejection of Canada — They realize emigration is not the solution to their pain.
Choosing Israel — The family collectively decides to remain in their homeland.
Resolution & Unity — Shared trauma heals old wounds and strengthens family bonds.
Reconciliation — Parents and children forgive past tensions and align.
New Beginnings — The family embraces life in Israel with renewed hope.
Menachem and Rosa Greenberg, a couple of Holocaust survivors, have had a difficult life. Their friend, Morris Greenspan, made his fortune in Canada through shady deals, and is a despicable character who urges the couple to emigrate from Israel to the good life in Canada. Their son, Chaim "Chaimon" Greenberg, is aware of the growing conflicts in his parents' home in light of their financial difficulties and the interference of their mysterious friend, who is also secretly courting his mother. His sister, Miri, is a naive teenager who falls under the spell of Shultz "the Hontroveltnik". Other participants in the film include Oshik Levi as the taxi driver, their neighbor and friend of their parents, Shai Idelson as Gaby, Chaimon's best friend and the taxi driver's son, and Sini Pater as Uncle Leizer from the kibbutz, who represents the Zionist antithesis to Morris's exile and smoothness. In the end, after a crisis that threatens the narrator's world, the family decides to stay in Israel.
