Walk on Water

     Walk on Water is a 2004 film, directed by Eytan Fox, that is centered around a successful Israeli Intelligence assassin, Eyal, who is struggling with issues and personal views of life, death, hate, prejudice, and self, as brought on by the recent suicide of his wife. With concerns regarding his mental and emotional state following his wife's suicide, Eyal's father, who serves also as his boss, assigns Eyal to a more subtle and non-lethal mission of befriending Axel, the grandson of a long-time fugitive Nazi war-criminal, in an attempt to obtain information on the his grandfather's present whereabouts. It is through the mission and the unanticipated relationship formed with Axel, in which Eyal embarks on a journey of personal evaluation and transformation, as he is faced with, and challenged by, the morals and dilemmas of forgiveness and acceptance that have previously defined his life, disposition, purpose, and beliefs. As from being a product of an Israeli militant culture, Eyal has a cold disposition as he sees the present-day world from an old-fashioned view; Eyral still looks at all Germans and Muslims as the enemy, and homosexuals are people he cannot be associated with as they are different and foreign. It is through the experience and exposure of Axel's views and disposition, in which Eyral has a revelation in regards to his life and self. Through his visit to Germany, Eyal transforms from hate-filled human being who believes to know his place in the world, to a man of question and wonder as he opens up to Axel in regards to his past and questioning of things he does not understand, such as homosexuality. Eyal's pinnacle moment of change occurs when he chooses not to kill Axel's ex-Nazi grandfather and comes to the realization that he is tired; tired of hating, tired of killing, and tired of being cold. The film ends with Eyal writing Axel a letter inviting him to visit his nephew, as Eyal has settled down with Axel's sister, Pia, to have a child and try a different new kind of life, more fulfilled life not defined through hate, but one defined through experience, appreciation, happiness, and love. It is not until Eyal removes all the negativity and hate in his life, in which he can dream and envision himself, with Axel, walking on water.

    

     The primary themes which are evident in Walk on Water are those of hate and acceptance. Eyal is the definition of hate, as he is an Israeli assassin who has open disdain and resentment towards Arabs, Homosexuals, and Germans. It is not until Eyal's one on one exposure with Axel and his philosophy of life, in which Eyal begins to realize his hate has ruined his life, and anyone he comes in contact with. It is finally in the end of the film in which Eyal can accept himself; himself, in regards to revealing of being born in Germany as well as himself being the reason his wife committed suicide, his hate depressed her and ruined her to the point she could no longer live with it. Eyal in the end seems to finally find happiness as he has learned to experience life, rather judge it, as is expressed through his relationship with a German woman as well as his dreaming of walking on water.

     Although at times the story line seemed to drag, I thoroughly enjoyed this film. I especially liked symbolism of the repeated varied versions of Buffalo Springfield's “For What It's Worth”, as it is a song about tensions and restrictions placed upon by society. Overall, I recommend this film to anyone who enjoys coming of age films, and films which subtly bring into question societal issues and problems through simple themes and creative plots.