Israeli Drama 'The Escape' Criticized for Relying on Clichés
Translated & summarized from Ynet by baba
The new Israeli series "The Escape," starring Yehuda Levi, has premiered on Keshet 12, but is criticized for relying heavily on genre clichés despite its basis in the story of the Lev Tahor cult. The drama follows a retired operative rescuing individuals from the abusive cult in Colombia, a plot enriched by the real-life horrors of the group. Critics note superficial dialogue and predictable scenarios, though the actors' performances are praised. The series aims for suspense with cliffhangers but is ultimately seen as an effective but shallow thriller.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- The new Israeli series "The Escape" is criticized for using genre clichés despite its basis in the Lev Tahor cult.
- Yehuda Levi stars as a retired operative rescuing people from the abusive cult in Colombia.
- The series reportedly draws from the real-life horrors of the Lev Tahor cult and its leaders.
- Critics describe the dialogue as superficial and the plot as predictable.
- Despite its flaws, the series uses cliffhangers to maintain suspense.
- The actors are praised for their performances within the limitations of the script.
The new Israeli series "The Escape" (HaBricha), starring Yehuda Levi and Ido Tako, premiered on Keshet 12, drawing criticism for its adherence to a formulaic approach common in Israeli thrillers. The series, which reportedly draws inspiration from the real-life story of the extremist Lev Tahor cult, follows a retired security operative, Carmeli (Levi), who undertakes a mission to rescue young people from the cult in the Colombian jungle. Carmeli is motivated by a personal past trauma, a common trope in the genre.
The series depicts the cult's leader, "The Tzadik" (Mark Ivanir), who is portrayed as physically and mentally abusive, isolating members from their families, and forcing extreme practices upon them, including child marriage and full body coverings for women. The real-life cult leader, Shlomo Helbrans, died nine years ago, and his son Nachman reportedly succeeded him, continuing the abuse. The cult's history has been the subject of media investigations and reports in various countries where it resided.
Despite the shocking real-life circumstances, the creators, Ariel Cohen and the the creator brothers (Yoav and Doron), are said to have opted for genre clichés. The dialogue is described as superficial and predictable, and Carmeli's rescue mission, aided by a few seemingly bored backpackers, is also found lacking. The plot weaves between the cult's activities and Carmeli's personal life, touching on combat stress in the third episode. While the series moves quickly to maintain suspense, its weak script and lazy dialogue detract from its effectiveness.
The actors are noted for doing their best with the material. Ivanir attempts to add complexity to the cult leader role, and Tako and Itai Turgeman also deliver performances despite challenges, including Turgeman's questionable wig. The series ends with cliffhangers, creating a desire to know what happens next, but the journey to resolution is described as tiring. Ultimately, "The Escape" is deemed an effective but superficial thriller that leaves little lasting impression, serving primarily as another credit for Levi, who is seen as the face of Israeli intelligence operations.
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