Review of For Sasha

In 1967, three recent French grads arrive in Israel to visit their best friends Sacha and Laura who idealistically have dedicated themselves to the military base just beyond the Syrian border, Sacha becoming an army officer while Laura teaches violin to children in the nearby village. Soon old attractions are rekindled as a love triangle, or rectangle, or pentagon develops since everyone has the hots for Sophie Marceau. Who can blame them? The friends aren't particularly likable but King Douchebag is definitely Simon who carries a secret agenda regarding a 6th friend Maryanne who died a few years ago when they all lived in Paris. The confrontations and resolutions are mostly melodramatic, and although there is some nice cinematography the film exhibits delusions of grandeur with extraneously stirring music swells and wide shots by thinking it's 'Lawrence of Arabia' with this overstrung material. The Isaeli locations provide all the realism you need with immersive cultural touches including perhaps the most moving scene represented by a visit to Jerusalem's Wailing Wall. However a couple important scenes with dialogue in Hebrew sure could've been subtitled! The ending achieves a sad note which would have hit harder if our character investment was greater.