Page - 105 - in JRFM - Journal Religion Film Media, Volume 05/01

Milja Radovic Constructing Space, Changing Reality of Israel through Film ABSTRACT This article investigates the ways in which filmmakers frame reality through cinematic space, mediating issues of conflict and reconciliation and of religion and identity(ies) within Israel. Cinematic space depicts and expresses borders through elements of film language. Through such (re)framing the film can question existing socio-political reali- ties and their impact on the individual or whole communities. The microcosmic realities which constitute different communities within Israel’s wider socio-political reality are built and confronted through the cinematic space. Thus, cinema enables existing re- alities to be reflected and new realities to be constructed. The article focuses on two films: West of the Jordan River (Amos Gitai, IL/FR 2017) and Geula (Redemption, Jo- seph Madmony / Boaz Yehonatan Yacov, IL 2018). By contrasting these two films we are able to understand how cinematic space functions as a means of negotiation: identities, religious belonging and communities correlate with the geographical space of Israel. KEYWORDS Cinematic Space, (Re)Framing, Reality, Israel, Religion, Identities BIOGRAPHY Milja Radovic is an interdisciplinary scholar and researcher. Her research covers the fields of religion, citizenship, transnational cinema and identity. Radovic is a member of Interfilm and has served in several ecumenical juries at international film festivals. She is the author of two monographs: Transnational Cinema and Ideology: Representing Religion, Identity and Cultural Myths (Routledge, 2014) and Film, Religion and Activist Cit- izens: An Ontology of Transformative Acts (Routledge, 2017). INTRODUCTION This article investigates ways in which filmmakers frame reality through cine- matic space, mediating issues of conflict and reconciliation and of religion and identity(ies) within Israel. I use the term “space” to refer to cinematic space that integrates geographical space, physical space and embodied space. The DOI: 10.25364/05.4:2019.1.7 Constructing Space, Changing Reality of Israel through Film | 105www.jrfm.eu 2019, 5/1