Live And Become Release

‘brave, moving and compassionate’
The Observer

Radu Mihaileanu’s
Live And Become

‘a remarkable trio of performances’
Toronto Star

The Works is thrilled to announce the release of Radu Mihaileanu’s award-winning, fact-based drama of a young boy’s search for identity, Live And Become.

Picking up three awards at The Berlin International Film Festival, Live And Become is a gripping story of deception and survival; a beautifully crafted coming of age tale about the fate of a young refugee told with warmth and humour.

Ethiopia 1984: civil war and famine rage. As thousands of displaced Africans crowd into Sudanese refugee camps, American and Israeli troops organise “Operation Moses”, a mission aimed at relocating the wandering Falashas, Ethiopian Jews who claim direct lineage back to King Solomon's days, to Israel. Forced by his Christian mother to declare himself Jewish to escape starvation, young Solomon (Moshe Agazai) is swept away to Israel.

Arriving in Tel Aviv, the boy is declared an orphan and adopted by a local French family. He begins a new life constantly fearing the discovery of a double lie – that he is neither orphaned nor Jewish. Solomon – now renamed Schlomo – does his best to adapt to his new surroundings as his presumed salvation slowly gives way to the inner decay of a fading identity.

This is Mihaileanu’s second feature following on from Train Of Life, another intensely moving film continuing the theme of Jewish identity, which itself won the Audience award at the Sundance film festival.

Garnering the Panorama Audience award, Label Europa Cinema and the prize of the Ecumenical Jury at the Berlin Film Festival, Mihaileanu’s heart-wrenching story of a boy bravely confronting ignorance and prejudice will be available on DVD courtesy of The Works from 14 August 2006.

Title: Live And Become Release Date: 14 August 2006 RRP: £19.99