This overlong story of an Ethiopian boy's experiences attempting to pass himself off as Jewish in order to enter Israel, gets bogged down with a meandering script that fails to gain momentum.
The story begins in 1984 at a refugee camp in Sudan where an Israeli mission is underway to rescue Ethiopian Jews to Israel.
A non-Jewish mother sees the opportunity for her nine-year-old Solomon and sends him off on a journey that must necessarily come full circle in Africa.
Romanian writer/director Radu Mihaileanu clearly cares deeply for his subject but gets sidelined from pulling it together.
The use of amateur actors in primary roles also reflects poorly on a potentially touching story.
Not Rated. 148 mins.
