Although he spent most of his life fighting ethnic discrimination, Yosef Shiloah is beloved by the Israeli public for his roles in broad ethnic comedies (known as ‘Bourekas’), stereotypical characters that became part of the country’s cultural fabric. Born in Kurdistan and raised in Israel, Shiloah forged a distinctive path in Israeli cinema while navigating the complex identity of an Arab Jew in a rapidly changing society. Drawing on rich archival footage, the film traces Shiloah’s rise during the formative decades of Israeli cinema in the 1970s and ’80s, while also revealing a complex and courageous artist who sought to change Israeli society. He met with Yasser Arafat in his office and fought for peace-actions that ultimately forced him to leave the country. Through his writings and rare personal footage filmed by his daughter, we gain insight into the inner world of an iconic Israeli actor and a fascinating window into a lesser-known chapter of Israeli film history.

See also Alex is Lovesick.