"Our Boys" (2019 release; US-Israeli co-production; 10 episodes; 580 min.) reminds us at the beginning that these are "dramatized events that took place in Greater Jerusalem in the Summer of 2014". As the series opens with "Chapter 1: Out Of the Depth: I Cry For You", three Jewish boys aged 19, 16 and 16 are missing, and a nationwide manhunt is soon developing. There are mass prayers held at the Western Wall and other places "to protect and bring back our boys". Meanwhile it is "June 29, 2014" and we get to know a guy at the Shabak (Israel's equivalent of the FBI) headquarters in Jerusalem. He is pessimistic... At this point we are less than 15 min. into the series, but to tell you more of the plot would spoil your viewing experience, you'll just have to see for yourself how it all plays out.
Couple of comments: this is the latest mini-series featured on HBO. Almost from the get-go, there is so much tension in the air that it is at times almost too much. The kidnapping of the three Jewish boys sets in motion a series of events that pit Israel's Jewish (both secular and Orthodox) population vs. the Israeli Arab population, and the picture that emerges is complex and nuanced, at least as portrayed in this mini-series. (Keep in mind that one-fifth of Israel's population is Arab. ) The production of this mini-series is top notch. It's impossible to tell whether some of these events (like the mass prayers) were re-staged and/or whether some existing TV footage was used. (It's probably a bit of both.) This mini-series really does give a good sense how close up these various factions live within just Jerusalem (East Jerusalem, which is majority Arab, and West Jerusalem, which is majority Jewish). (I had the great fortune of visiting Jerusalem some years ago. What an amazing place it is!)
I saw the first two (of the 10 total ) episodes earlier this week (these 2 episodes are now available on HBO On Demand), and I am completely in the grip of this mini-series. I cannot even begin to imagine what all is going to happen still in the remainder 8 episodes. This is tense and compelling TV watching. If you have any interest in the Jewish-Arab conflict in the Middle East, I'd readily suggest you check this out and draw you own conclusion. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!
