Live and Become (French: Va, vis et deviens) is a 2005 French drama film directed by Radu Mihăileanu. The screenplay was co‑written by Mihăileanu and Alain‑Michel Blanc. The film dramatizes the experience of an Ethiopian Christian boy who is placed with an Ethiopian Jewish family and subsequently emigrates to Israel during the 1984 airlift known as Operation Moses.
Production
- Director: Radu Mihăileanu
- Screenwriters: Radu Mihăileanu, Alain‑Michel Blanc
- Producers: Denis Carot, Marie Masmonteil, Radu Mihăileanu, Marek Rozenbaum, Itai Tamir
- Cinematography: Rémy Chevrin
- Edited by: Ludo Troch
- Music: Armand Amar
- Production companies: Les Films du Losange (France) and co‑productions with Israeli partners
- Budget: €5.3 million
Release
- Premiere: 11 February 2005 at the Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama section)
- French theatrical release: 30 March 2005
- Running time: 140 minutes
- Languages: French, Amharic, Hebrew
Plot summary
The story follows Schlomo, a young Ethiopian boy whose Christian mother, seeking a better future for him, entrusts him to an Ethiopian Jewish woman whose own child has died. The woman is scheduled to be airlifted from a Sudanese refugee camp to Israel during Operation Moses. Before departing, Schlomo’s mother tells him, “Go, live, and become.” Upon arrival in Israel, Schlomo assumes a Jewish identity, growing up in a kibbutz while concealing his true religious and familial background. The film explores his struggle with identity, secrecy, and assimilation as he matures into adulthood.
Cast (selected)
- Moshe Agazai as Child Schlomo
- Moshe Abebe as Teenage Schlomo
- Sirak M. Sabahat as Adult Schlomo
- Yael Abecassis as Yael Harrari
- Roschdy Zem as Yoram Harrari
- Roni Hadar as Sarah
- Rami Danon as Papy
- Raymonde Abecassis as Suzy
Reception and accolades
Live and Become received critical recognition at several international film festivals:
| Festival / Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama) | Panorama Audience Award (feature) | Won |
| Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama) | Europa Cinemas Label | Won |
| Berlin International Film Festival (Panorama) | Prize of the Ecumenical Jury | Won |
| César Awards (France) | Best Original Screenplay (Blanc & Mihăileanu) | Won |
| César Awards | Best Film, Best Director, Best Original Music | Nominated |
| Copenhagen International Film Festival | Best Film | Won |
| Cinemania (France) | Prix du public | Won |
| Globes de Cristal Awards | Best Film | Nominated |
| Lumière Awards | World Audience Award | Won |
| Toronto International Film Festival | People’s Choice Award | Runner‑up |
| Vancouver International Film Festival | Audience Award (International) | Won |
The film also garnered audience awards at numerous Jewish film festivals across the United States, including Boston, Washington, Miami, Atlanta, Detroit, San Diego, and others.
Themes
The narrative addresses themes of identity, displacement, religious conversion, and the complexities of immigration. By focusing on a personal story set against the broader historical context of Operation Moses, the film examines the psychological impact of cultural assimilation and the tension between personal truth and societal expectations.
Legacy
Live and Become is noted for bringing the relatively obscure episode of Ethiopian Jewish migration to a wider audience and for its contribution to French‑Israeli cinematic collaborations. The film continues to be referenced in discussions of diaspora cinema and in analyses of representations of Ethiopian Jews in contemporary media.