SJFF Gay Gezunt! LGBTQIA+ Spotlight: CONCERNED CITIZEN

Architect Ben thinks of himself as a socially progressive, enlightened gay man. But an interaction with neighbors in his gritty south Tel Aviv neighborhood challenges his view of himself in this smartly crafted, multilayered satire about racial privilege, xenophobia, and identity.

CONCERNED CITIZEN is our Gay Gezunt! LGBTQIA+ Spotlight and part of our Israel@75 Birthday Series.

In-Person Showtime: March 12 | AMC | 5:15 pm • Streaming Window: March 20-26

More on CONCERNED CITIZEN (אזרח מודאג)

Idan Haguel | Narrative Drama/Comedy | Israel, USA | 2022 | Hebrew w/English subtitles | 82m | R

Things are going well for Ben and Raz, a well-to-do gay couple in Tel Aviv. After buying a renovated apartment in an up-and-coming migrant neighborhood, they begin to seek a surrogate to help them start a family. Their attempt to create a cozy life is disrupted when Ben plants a sapling on the sidewalk to beautify his new street. The tree soon becomes a source of conflict, and when matters turn physical, Ben gets the police involved. The situation thrusts internal prejudices to the surface, racking Ben with guilt and forcing him to grapple with his complicity in this comedic parable about gentrification, privilege, inclusion, and tolerance.

Director Bio

Idan Haguel is a graduate of the Sapir College Film Department. Following a number of acclaimed short films that screened at festivals worldwide, his debut feature film INERTIA (2016) premiered internationally, and CONCERNED CITIZEN was recently screened at the Berlinale. He has also worked as a journalist and scriptwriter for Israeli television. View official bio on IMDB.

Community Partners: Congregation Tikvah Chadashah

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