Live and Become (French: Va, vis et deviens) is a 2005 French drama film about an Ethiopian Christian boy who disguises himself as an Ethiopian Jew to escape famine and emigrates to Israel. It was directed by Romanian-born Radu Mihăileanu. It won awards at the Berlin and Vancouver film festivals among others.
| Live and Become | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Radu Mihaileanu |
| Written by | Alain-Michel Blanc Radu Mihaileanu |
| Produced by | Denis Carot Marie Masmonteil Radu Mihaileanu Marek Rozenbaum Itai Tamir |
| Starring | Mekonet Ageza Moshe Abebe Sirak M. Sabahat Yael Abecassis Roschdy Zem Roni Hadar Rami Danon Raymonde Abecassis Mimi Abonesh Kebede Meskie Shibru-Sivan Hadar |
| Narrated by | Patrick Descamps |
| Cinematography | Rémy Chevrin |
| Edited by | Ludo Troch |
| Music by | Armand Amar |
| Distributed by | Les Films du Losange |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 140 minutes |
| Countries | France Israel[1] |
| Languages | French Amharic Hebrew |
| Budget | €5.3 million[2] |
| Box office | $3.7 million[3] |
Plot
Schlomo, an Ethiopian boy, is placed by his Christian mother with an Ethiopian Jewish woman whose child has died. This woman, who will become his adoptive mother, is about to be airlifted from a Sudanese refugee camp to Israel during Operation Moses in 1984. His birth mother, who hopes for a better life for him, tells him "Go, live, and become," as he leaves her to get on the bus. The film tells of his growing up in Israel and how he deals with the secrets he carries: not being Jewish and having left his birth mother.
Cast
- 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
- Mimi Abonesh Kebede as Hana
- Meskie Shibru-Sivan Hadar as Schlomo's mother
- Yitzhak Edgar as Qes Amhra
- Aaron Vodovoz as Kibbutz Boy
Accolades
International
| Award / Film Festival | Category | Recipients and nominees | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | Panorama Audience Award (feature film) | Won | |
| Europa Cinemas Label | Won | ||
| Prize of the Ecumenical Jury (Panorama) | Won | ||
| César Awards | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Best Director | Radu Mihaileanu | Nominated | |
| Best Original Screenplay | Alain-Michel Blanc and Radu Mihaileanu | Won | |
| Best Original Music | Armand Amar | Nominated | |
| Copenhagen International Film Festival | Best Film | Won | |
| Best Script | Alain-Michel Blanc and Radu Mihaileanu | Won | |
| Cinemania (film festival) | Prix du public | Won | |
| Globes de Cristal Award | Best Film | Nominated | |
| Lumières Awards | World Audience Award | Won | |
| Toronto International Film Festival | People's Choice Award | Runner-up | |
| Vancouver International Film Festival | Audience Award (international film) | Won |
In the United States
Audience Awards unless otherwise noted
- Boston Jewish Film Festival
- Washington Jewish Film Festival
- Miami Jewish Film Festival
- Atlanta Jewish Film Festival
- Detroit Jewish Film Festival (Best Film)
- San Diego Jewish Film Festival
- Orange County Jewish Film Festival
- Palm Desert Jewish Film Festival
- Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival
- Tampa Jewish Film Festival
- Seattle Jewish Film Festival
- Cleveland International Film Festival
- Nashville Film Festival
- Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival
- Detroit Jewish Film Festival (Audience Award)
- Washington DC International Film Festival (Runner-Up)
- Aspen Filmfest
