A Tale of Love and Darkness

Natalie Portman directs herself in this sweet if simplistic adaptation of Amos Oz's emotionally powerful memoir, which recounts his upbringing and relationship with his mother (played by Portman) in Jerusalem in the years leading up to the creation of Israel. The film perfectly encapsulates the trauma of war, and the creative roots Oz's mother passes on to him through her stories, which become intermingled with real life. Sadly, the necessary complexity and nuance to make the film truly effective is not there, with the script struggling to filter a complicated political climate through the eyes of its young lead. The sombre nature of the setting also overpowers the story as a whole. Nevertheless, the passion in Portman's fragile but spirited performance shines through, and she bonds well with young co-star Amir Tessler. While the film's backdrop proves too big for the film, the conviction of all involved ensure this historical drama just about gets its message across.