Filmmaker of award-winning Israeli film 'The Sea' in interview: 'This is not a political film, but a longing for humanity'

Last Thursday, The Sea (הים البحر), the new film by director Shy Carmeli-Polak, received a special mention from the judges of the Hajjaj Award for Israeli Narrative Cinema at the Jerusalem Film Festival. In addition, the film won Best Ensemble Cast and Best Original Music.

On the evening of the awards ceremony, Carmeli-Polak was interviewed on the Tarbutnikim program on Kan Reshet Bet, where he spoke about the work that has earned praise from critics.

At the heart of The Sea (הים البحر) is Khaled, a 12-year-old boy from a village near Ramallah, who gets a chance to see the sea for the first time in his life on a class trip. When the class bus arrives at a checkpoint, it turns out Khaled does not have a permit to cross. While his classmates continue, he is forced to return home. Later, he decides to set out on his own journey to the sea, not knowing Hebrew or the way. His father, a construction worker in Israel without a permit, goes out to look for him – risking both his freedom and his livelihood.

“This is a story about a yearning for something basic – like seeing the sea – that is almost unattainable for children and adults in the West Bank,” Carmeli-Polak said in the interview. “What drove me to write the film was my familiarity with this reality, through many years of activism in the territories. It comes from a place of love and human closeness – not ideology.”

The film, which was shot about two years ago, was born, according to Carmeli-Polak, from his personal experiences in the Palestinian areas. In the interview, he recalled a moment that shook him deeply: “I was in shock from what I saw during the Second Intifada,” he said. “Since then, I’ve followed the struggle against the separation barrier and have repeatedly witnessed people’s longing – simply to see the sea. Something that we, as Israelis, take for granted.”

Alongside young actor Muhammad Ghazawi, who plays the lead role, The Sea (הים البحر) also features Khalifa Natour, Hila Sorjon, and Marlene Bajali. The production brought together a mixed team of Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians. “The collaborative work was a powerful experience – one that’s even harder to imagine happening today, in times like these,” the director noted.

The film’s premiere screening took place this past Monday at the festival, accompanied by a sense of discomfort given the ongoing war. “It felt schizophrenic,” Carmeli-Polak shared. “On one hand, the release of a project I’d worked on for years – on the other, a chaotic, brutal, and painful reality.” Still, he said, the audience’s reaction reinforced his belief in the film’s relevance: “People came out with tears in their eyes. The film is first and foremost about human beings. It doesn’t preach or judge. Even people who don’t share my political views found themselves connecting with it.”

Carmeli-Polak emphasized that for him, the sea in the film symbolizes much more than a landscape: “It’s a longing for a mother, for love, for a life never lived. I hope this film, even if just a little, can open a window – replace fear and hatred with humanity, respect, and empathy.”