Mixed Unit - Lions of Jordan (2018): Season 1, Episode 4 - Episode #1.4 - full transcript
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The formation will stand at attention.
Attention!
I swear!
Look at this mess, Almog.
What do you want from me?
My mother always says
I'm the spoiled baby of the house.
Move.
I always got my way,
no matter what.
The army isn't summer camp,
it isn't school.
The commanders call the shots.
They may be just a few months older than you,
but they will tell you what to do.
Learn to accept that.
In the seventh grade
I joined the Netanya municipal student council.
I was their spokesperson for two years.
I'm very ambitious.
I've spoken at the Knesset.
When I have a goal in mind,
I work hard to achieve it.
Ready.
-Tell me, aren't you worried?
What's the worst that could happen?
I'm attracted to boys.
Move, fag.
How can I tell them?
How can I come out to these people?
People might not accept me.
When I call Noam or someone a fag,
and you hear that,
do you take it personally?
Yeah. Totally.
I feel less respected, as a person.
During our talk I realized he's a strong guy.
He's been through a lot.
Let me tell you something,
army friends are friends for life.
Let me lay down on the dunes
Let the muses thunder on
Let me lay down with each stride...
What's a stride?
"With each stride."
I don't know what "stride" means.
In short, treat the IDF with pride, man.
-Yeah.
You know something, Moshe?
-Well?
I finally understand the saying,
"the field is home,
"the base is a hotel
and home is just a dream."
For real, man.
At first I thought it was bullshit.
Nothing about the stupid base was like a hotel.
But man, it was a seven-star luxury.
Look around at what we have now.
Nothing. Rocks.
-Right.
I'm sleeping on the ground,
without a sleeping bag.
I don't have a sleeping bag.
I offered.
I'm not sharing your sleeping bag, man.
-I offered.
I'm not sharing your sleeping bag.
-I did offer.
Why would I share your sleeping bag?
-I offered to open it up for two,
but you didn't want to.
-Well, we'll do it tonight.
Tonight. Let's do it.
We'll use it to cover up?
-Yeah.
But we'll have to huddle close.
-No problem, man.
Just, you know,
no... no moving.
We'll wake up the way we went to sleep.
And no funny business.
What exactly are you doing?
Come here.
What's this? Is this beyond the line?
It's live-fire territory, right?
Yeah, live-fire territory.
-Then get out.
Can't we lean against the wall?
-No.
Let me lay down on the dunes
Let the muses thunder on
Let me lay down with each stride
And treat the IDF with pride
Man, I haven't changed my socks
since Sunday.
I swear.
Almog?
-Yeah?
Here, your mom dropped off
a package for you at the gate.
She brought me all this?
Sure.
-Nice.
More chocolate.
More chocolate.
Platoon 3, in the following time
I want you in a U-formation.
30 seconds, go.
My weapon.
What's wrong with me?
I don't even know where mine is.
Where's your weapon?
Listen, I don't have my weapon.
Where's your weapon?
-Whose weapon is this?
Whose gun is on my bed?
-Whose is this?
I've got an abandoned weapon.
In your squad?
-Yeah. Almog, again.
This has to be the sixth time
he's abandoned his weapon this week.
We need to do something about him.
To receive Commander Nehorai,
Squad 3A will stand at attention.
Attention.
What do you think you're doing?
You never let go of your weapon.
24/7. You cuddle it in your sleep.
If you need me to tie it to your arms,
to your body, I'll do it.
Get out of here.
I'm heading out for a smoke,
if anyone wants to join me.
I want one, too.
Come on, bro.
Let's go.
Almog, where's your weapon?
I don't believe it.
I don't believe it, man.
I see him jumping out of that wall, man.
-Come on, man.
Enough.
Just like he abandoned his weapon
in his room,
he could abandon it on the bus,
in a restaurant,
at the central bus station.
Carrying a weapon is a big responsibility.
It's a killing machine.
It may be the most important thing
they'll ever be responsible for.
Weapon!
-Weapon.
Load!
-Load.
Weapons at the ready!
Weapons at the ready!
Terrorist!
Terrorist!
It's been a month since we've gotten our guns,
everyone's at the shooting range
but I'm the only one
who hasn't managed to fire yet.
I'm all stressed out.
You have to grit your teeth
and fire these five bullets, alright?
Again.
Assume the correct position
and fire your five bullets at the target.
You know how to aim, right?
To the center.
Breath out,
keep your eyes open.
Try it.
Slowly, slowly, slowly.
It just really scares me.
At the end of the day, I'm carrying
a killing machine.
It's scary.
It's 4.2 lbs. of iron
and about 4 tons of responsibility
that's resting on my shoulders.
Try placing it like this.
Is that better?
No.
We're shooting at cardboard targets,
but it could just as easily be people.
We're shooting at center mass,
but "center mass" belongs to people,
not cardboard targets.
I just can't do it.
I really tried,
but ultimately I couldn't shoot.
It raises a very difficult moral dilemma
that's hard for me to handle.
Welcome from Lebanon!
Welcome from Israel!
At the end of the 10th grade
I left to study at an international school
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I had friends from...
hostile countries.
From Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen.
I got to know their stories
and learned things
most people don't ever hear about.
It really shifted my perspective,
it shattered a lot of the myths
I'd believed growing up.
Do your friends from Bosnia
know you're a combat soldier, with a weapon?
I don't talk to them about that.
I see the army as one thing,
but they see it as something else.
And... I know they've been hurt before
by things Israel did, and all that.
So it'll be hard for them
to see me in uniform.
Some of them will unfriend me on Facebook
and will stop talking to me.
Israelis who are conscientious objectors
get more respect.
Wait, so did you not listen in class?
Did you fail your classes?
-Why?
Not only are you enlisting,
but you're going into a combat role.
I told myself
that as long as I'm enlisting,
I may as well go into a combat role
and then I can make up my own mind...
They keep talking
about all the awful things
the army is supposedly doing,
but you can't know
if they're really happening.
If I have the right, or the duty,
to enlist,
then I'll do it
and I'll see for myself
what's really going on.
And if I find out they really are happening,
then I'll know it isn't the right place for me.
Get out your phones
and return to a U-formation. I'm timing you.
Almog.
Almog! Almog!
Almog!
-Almog!
Almog!
Almog!
Are you pretending you can't hear us?
What's going on?
-Nothing.
Come on, tell me outside.
Almog.
Come outside and talk to me.
Come.
What's wrong?
Answer me when I talk to you.
That's thing one.
Get me my meds when I ask for them.
That's thing one.
-First of all, sort out your appearance.
Don't talk to me like that.
Sort out your appearance.
Quickly!
That week,
the pile-driver thing we use to hammer pegs
fell on my pinky,
split it in two.
The doctor gave me two prescriptions.
Do up that button.
-It's torn.
I still haven't gotten those meds.
I don't want to follow the schedule
until I get those meds,
until they let me take care of myself.
Why aren't you wearing a belt?
It must be in the room.
Not an option.
Go and get your belt,
and sort out your appearance, now.
I don't know where it is.
I'm changing into my sweatpants,
he can wait.
He thinks I'm gonna
sort myself out for him.
Give me your phone.
I think you forgot something.
That's the third time today.
-You're driving me crazy.
The third time.
-Eighth.
Platoon 2's sergeant
also caught you without your weapon.
I've abandoned my weapon
three times in the past two days.
When there's too much going on in the moment
and the weapon isn't right in front of you,
you forget.
I just leave it.
I'm not used to it yet.
What is it?
Why do I have to wait
four days for medication?
There are logistical constraints.
-What does that mean?
Why can't I get them?
-Shut up for a second.
Don't talk back to me.
-Okay.
Let me speak
and don't interrupt me. Understood?
Understood?
-Understood.
Understood, what?
-Understood, Commander Nehorai.
Good.
Don't play with the weapon
like it was a guitar.
The pharmacy was closed today,
and some things take precedence.
Some people's injuries
are much worse than yours.
Wait a while.
It won't kill you, believe me.
Anything else?
I don't know. I can't do anything.
My finger hurts.
It's just a finger.
You shot very well today.
I shot great.
-Come here.
Almog.
-Forget it, I'm tired. -Almog.
Leave me alone, Commander.
-Almog, I'm talking to you.
Leave me alone.
-Almog, it'd be a shame if you got in trouble.
I'm trying to help you out.
-I won't get in trouble.
I don't want you to get in trouble, Almog.
What is it? I'm tired, Commander.
-I'm tired too. Come here.
Commander...
-Not now.
First of all, don't walk away
while I'm talking to you.
Second, I'm your commander
and you do as I say.
I don't care if you don't like it.
I really don't.
-That so?
Third, I'll have you know
you've abandoned your weapon three times today.
There will be consequences.
-Cool.
Cool, what?
Cool, Commander Nehorai.
-It's not cool.
Don't tell me it's cool.
Alright, Commander Nehorai.
"Yes, Commander Nehorai."
-Yes, Commander Nehorai.
Expect to be hit. Big time.
-Got it.
A bullet to the head.
-Something that'll put you out of commission...
A bullet to the head.
-For a long time. -Got it.
Get back to your room.
I'm the youngest of four boys.
I grew up in a house
where I always got whatever I wanted,
starting with clothes,
any shoes that I wanted,
no matter the cost.
For example,
when I wanted the PlayStation 3,
I was one
of the first kids in Israel to get one.
People cut me a lot of slack along the way.
Teachers at school, my parents,
they always cut corners.
But when you get to the army, you're nothing.
Nothing at all.
It's a new experience. It's weird. I...
It hasn't sunk in.
What's up? How do you feel?
Terrible.
What happened?
I'm on strike, Mom.
You're what?
-I'm on strike. I'm ignoring the schedule.
Fuck them.
Stop talking nonsense, alright?
That's enough, Almog.
I tired of this.
-Mom, they won't give me my meds.
Fine, that's how it goes in the army.
It could take up a week to get your meds.
Don't go on any strike.
-I'm on strike,
and they can all go fuck themselves.
Almog, stop this behavior. You can't do that.
That's what they get. Fuck them.
You can't do that.
Beat some sense into him.
-What? -He's on strike.
"Beat some sense into him."
What does that mean, "you're on strike"?
It's like I'm not there.
I'm ignoring the commanders.
Listen to me.
It sounds like you think
you're in summer camp.
Not summer camp, but what the hell?
You can't go whatever you want.
This isn't high school.
Ask to see a doctor,
but meanwhile, do as you're told.
Don't be a snowflake.
No, I've seen how things work around here.
They only understand force.
If you don't use force,
they ignore you.
Fine, do whatever you want.
But don't be a bigger pussy than the girls.
That's all I can say.
We approach in a straight line,
so that any terrorist in area
can be shot.
We advance like this, with fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
It's great I can pretend
to shoot in a dry drill.
But if I actually encounter a terrorist,
I don't know
whether I'll actually do these things.
I might just freeze on the spot,
and be like...
Eliminated!
This entire platoon has been eliminated.
Okay, you've eliminated the enemy.
There's a dead terrorist here,
so walk past him. Go on, pass him by.
Walk, walk.
Then you lie down,
in case there's another terrorist waiting.
But shouldn't we make sure he's really dead?
What if he's just pretending
and then shoots us in the back?
Serious question.
-We'll see it. While we're walking by
we can look to make sure he's really dead.
Commander Odelia,
what happens if he's alive and I...
How do I turn my back on him?
-What if he gets up behind us?
It's up to the commander to decide.
But dead-checking isn't allowed.
-What?
Dead-checking isn't allowed.
-Exactly, so you'll probably just...
Wait, so I just stand in front of him
with my weapon and say,
"Commander, can you come over
and tell me whether to shoot?" -Yes.
If he's still shooting at you,
still a threat, kill him.
If he's no longer a threat,
if he's just lying down,
then he gets evacuated, treated for injuries
and sent to jail. Cool?
Yes, Commander.
-If he's still a threat,
still got his weapon trained on you,
if he's still alive and just missing a leg,
kill him.
It's just insane,
the thought that I might have
to kill people one day.
Alright, girls.
Shall we go through it again?
I want to.
-Yeah.
If I have to kill someone
in order to protect others,
that what I'm expected to do
and chances are that I'll do it,
as hard as that is.
I'm scared of the weapon.
I don't know if it'll ever feel natural
to be walking around with a fucking weapon.
Why should I get used
to walking around with a fucking...
Weapon.
-Killer. -This thing that...
Yeah, it's a little killer.
It's like a killer kid that just...
-It's not that little.
No matter, it's this killer kid
that's hanging around my neck.
A moment ago I was a civilian,
now I'm supposed to be a combat soldier.
I'm scared.
I don't know if I'm ready for that.
I'm concerned that the people around me
don't think about
what it means to have a weapon,
what it means to go through basic training
and what it means
to do this thing and be part of...
What it means to be wearing this uniform.
And it scares me to think
that I might actually get used to it.
We can't ignore the fact
that we do need an army.
On the other hand,
it's weird that 18 year-olds
enlist in the army and carry weapons
and go out to arrest people.
It's wrong, Na'ama.
It doesn't make sense
that at any moment I can...
It's cute that you think it's wrong.
-Kill people.
It's just that.
-I think you're overreacting.
If you don't think about it, it...
-I think you're exaggerating.
Not at all.
-Now that I'm a soldier,
it's not like the first thing I want to do
is barge into
a family's living room to shoot them.
I don't think of it that way.
-That's not what I think.
That's not why I enlisted,
and it doesn't matter what I need...
-Why did you enlist? To defend?
Absolutely, to defend.
We're here to defend our home, our country.
Our purpose isn't to murder people.
You're given a weapon
because that's how you defend yourself.
If there was a way
to take a step back during the war
and have a conversation,
then I think they'd give you
a pen and paper.
There are rules
about how to shoot, when, what...
And who, and why.
That's why there's a selection process.
There's a selection process.
Not everyone can be a combat soldier.
I'm glad it's girls like you
who have firepower,
instead of some dumbass.
Start on the right.
Two groups of three.
Bon Appetite.
Alright, give me some,
just so he'll leave me alone.
Give me just a little bit.
That's enough.
Aren't you hungry today?
-I'm on strike.
I won't eat this, either.
I just put it on my plate
so the commander won't bug me about it.
I heard a rumor
someone in my squad refuses to eat.
I refuse to eat.
-I don't care.
I won't eat.
-You will.
We'll see who eats.
Eat something. Come on.
-I'm not hungry! Should I force myself?
I'll vomit. Don't be a jackass.
It'll keep him from fucking with you.
Let him. I'm not afraid of him.
Almog, talk again
and you're out of the formation.
And don't tell me it wasn't you.
I swear it wasn't me.
-Right, it wasn't. -Swear to God.
Don't talk back, Almog. Shut up!
He yells at me
in front of the entire platoon.
He irritates me, gets me going.
I need some minimal respect.
You can't respect someone
who doesn't respect you.
No matter who it is.
Almog, plank position.
I can't. My hand hurts.
It's fine. You can do it.
-No, I can't.
Plank position now! Did I stutter?
I can never shut up.
I always talk back.
I'm hot-headed. There's no stopping me.
Platoon 3,
everyone get into plank position.
-What?
Plank position.
This is fun.
Almog is being a bully.
This is the stuff
that screws us over.
One!
-Stay down.
Stay down.
-I can't.
I'm sick of this place, man.
I'm going to bed.
Leave me alone.
-Why are you so bummed?
Is it the finger?
The finger is nothing.
This is about respect.
When I don't get respect, I go crazy.
I get up and leave.
Well, there's nothing you can do.
And you know, you...
You're looking for trouble.
He tells you to shut up,
and you talk back.
Fuck them all. I'm on strike.
I'm also in pain,
I pulled a muscle really bad.
I can't walk, can't run.
But I don't say that I'm on strike.
I'm on strike. They can go to hell.
Seriously, don't do it.
I'm on strike!
They'll fuck you over.
-Let them.
Why? It'll be a shame.
-Let them fuck me over.
But not because you're trouble.
Sure I'm trouble. That's all I am.
If you cause trouble,
you'll pay for it twice over.
That's the only way they'll learn.
That's how they treat you.
That's how they treat you.
-Babe, you're not running the army.
The army runs you.
They decide when you see your parents,
they decide when you get to see your family,
they decide when you get out...
Then I'll go.
-The make your schedule.
Then go.
I want to see you do it.
I will.
Is the guard at the gate gonna stop me?
The gate's open, I can leave.
You're just asking for trouble.
The boys kill me.
It's like a new level of stupid.
They're acting like 12 year-olds.
Do you get along with them?
Honestly, now I get along with them.
I just try to do my best
to meet them halfway and help them.
If someone's having trouble
with their water canteen, or just...
Right.
-I show them I'm there for them, and... -Yeah.
I try... I mean, I hope
they'll be there for me, too.
-Right.
How do you feel about the weapon?
I love her. Einav.
My sweet Einav.
Wasn't it hard for you,
the idea of carrying a weapon around?
It's a little hard for me
to hear the examples they use,
like, "What if a terrorist comes at you?"
It's hard to think we're the ones who'll...
-Yeah.
Have to do it.
-On the front lines.
It's hard for me to think
that I've got a weapon, the ability to kill.
It feels so unnatural,
and then I get scared
that it'll start to feel natural.
Because it's not natural for an 18 year-old
to be walking around with a gun.
True, it's... -But it's also
not natural that I'm a soldier, and...
still feel uncomfortable holding a weapon.
I mean, I volunteered for this.
Right. -It's different for you.
You didn't have a choice. -Right.
When I got that text...
Alright, fine.
-Did you want to go into co-ed combat?
No.
-What did you want?
The thing I want most
is to become a medic.
That's something I've always wanted to do.
I'd be thrilled
if I got into that course.
That could totally happen.
Listen up, shooters.
This is how it's gonna go.
The guides' job
is to make sure no one charges ahead
on their own.
Your friends are with you,
and no one wants to be shot in the back
and definitely doesn't want
to shoot their friend in the back.
Understood?
Understood, Platoon Commander.
Alright? One step, bullet.
Step, bullet. Step, bullet.
Step, bullet.
The closer you get,
the higher your aim.
30 feet away from the target
you should be aiming for the head,
or the neck.
Is that clear?
-Yes, Platoon Commander.
You have 15 bullets.
Don't wait for the "cease fire".
Empty your magazine.
Begin live-fire drill!
Begin live-fire drill!
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Lower your weapons,
stay by the target.
You keep aiming
at the same place. That's wrong.
One bullet or two
to the stomach or the pelvis
won't kill anyone.
The neck, the head, that'll kill them.
This gets them out of a PTA meeting.
One.
Who hit the heart? No one.
Your goal should be
to charge at bodies,
not at live terrorists.
Not at anything that can stand, talk,
breathe, groan.
What are your weapons for?
Alright, Avigail.
I just can't do it.
It's just hard for me.
Honestly, when it comes to morality,
I have no business being in the IDF
if my morality is...
that I can't kill anyone.
Guns are for killing people.
You need to know you're training to kill.
You're not training so you can...
play at the shooting range.
As soon as I see someone with a knife
who's a danger to you,
or you...
Is he carrying a knife
or is he about to pull one out?
Or to Ahmed the civilian, cool?
What will you do?
-If he's a danger to them, I'll kill him.
A terrorist walks into
the Beersheba central bus station.
Someone, not you,
shoots him in the knee.
Someone neutralizes him,
takes away his knife,
ties him up.
Then it's out of my hand.
It's up to the law now. -Right.
There are people in this platoon
who got their weapon and were all,
"Oh, this is so cool.
It's like paintball!"
It's not cool. It kills people.
Right.
-People die for nothing. -It should kill.
I really think it's wrong.
Why? Because I'm an 18 year-old kid
who's been given a weapon,
who's responsible for this country.
Honestly, the first night
we slept with our weapons,
I couldn't fall sleep.
-But you need to stop thinking
of yourself as an 18 year-old kid.
You're a soldier, not a kid.
It's true.
I can't get used to the idea
that I'm a combat soldier.
Put it on my shoulder.
Against my shoulder.
Thanks.
Butch!
Did you notice
everyone started calling me Butch?
Did you notice that?
Butch? Is that in Hebrew?
You're asking what it means?
-Yes.
A big girl. A gorilla.
A fat girl, like a gorilla.
A masculine girl.
A masculine girl,
or a fat girl? Explain.
-It's both.
You honestly don't know
why they call me Butch?
It's because I said,
"What do you think of the girls here?
"They're all butch. Yuck.
I wouldn't go near them."
Moshe said,
"You look like a butch girl."
And then the name stuck.
Butch!
Did someone call me Butch?
Butch.
Come here, you're standing trial.
Oh, there's a trial?
Damn, my beret is back at the tent.
Attention, Company Commander.
At ease.
Come on in.
How are you?
-God bless.
Do you know why you're here?
A lot of discipline issues.
Talking back.
Multiple instances of weapon abandonment,
failure to meet your schedule,
problems with your appearance.
You get that a lot.
Discarded gear.
And worst of all, in my opinion,
is talking back to the staff.
Your punishment
is confinement to base for the weekend.
This weekend?
-Yes. You'll stay here this weekend.
That's all. Anything to say?
That makes it 28 days at the base, right?
Yes.
We stayed on base the week before,
when we were supposed to go home
and stay on base the week after that.
So it ends up being 3 weekends in a row.
28 days.
What I want you to know
is that this is a clean slate.
This punishment won't stain you, alright?
You'll be punished,
and we'll move on.
Once we see you
accept this confinement
and take responsibility for your actions
in a mature way,
the only way for you is up.
Thank you.
I left annoyed and pissed off.
How many times can they punish me
and keep me away from home?
Anyone calling out times?
We're in the room,
just so you can see how empty it is.
I'm so alone.
There's no one here.
You sit on your bed
like a sad loser.
It's hard,
seeing everyone leave.
It sucks.
Another weekend here at the base,
another one on the way
to that crappy 28th day.
It's hard, this whole thing.
You don't get to see your ex,
your home,
your parents, your family,
your friends.
You can't go out. You're stuck here all day.
It takes strength to get through this army.
They teach you
that everything you do
is noted and remembered,
and you get punished for it.
And that's hard.
This room looks big, doesn't it?
You have no idea how tiny it is.
Oh, man.
It'll get better at some point.
For sure.
What's up?
Come, sit.
I want you to use this opportunity
to think things over.
"What did I do?
Where did I go wrong?"
You could be the best soldier in the squad.
Honestly,
I'm not just saying it.
But you choose to be all over the place
and not do anything you're told.
I want you to lead the squad.
Right, I can see how I could.
I see there are moments
where no matter how loud they're talking,
as soon as I open my mouth
they shut up and listen.
It happens a lot.
Be the center of attention,
but in a good way.
From now on,
I want you to promise
that you'll stop fooling around
and do a 180.
Enough. Clear slate.
Seriously, enough.
I just want you to understand
where you made a mistake,
and draw a line
so you can make it better.
Alright?
-Yeah.
Great.
It made me feel like I want to change,
to take things seriously
and prove to them
that I can do more.
And if I can do it, why shouldn't I?
Alright, we'll do it like this:
Almog, you command the unit.
You guys cover.
We're heading for the ridge we came from,
towards the stream.
Alright. Walking order, two lines.
Two lines...
-I've already divided them.
Don't forget to stay in a perfect line.
Get a move on. Come on!
Go on, Magad. Come on.
It's all good. Let's go.
Alright, crouch.
Almog.
There's a suspicious object there.
What do I need you to do?
If there's an attack,
you just return fire.
The important thing is to cover me.
Alright. Get going.
After all my fuck-ups
these past few days,
I'm going to take this unit commander drill
very seriously.
I just want to prove how good I am.
You, prone position
facing in that direction.
You can move forward a bit.
Almog!
Brief them in a crouch,
while they're crouching.
Face that ravine over there.
Over there. Over there.
-What do I do?
Come here.
Get into a prone position,
facing this way.
Here, right on this hill.
With all this gear?
-Yeah. - I can't do it.
Get down... Lie down here.
Lie down.
Good.
I saw that I have power within the squad.
My word matters,
I can get people to follow me.
It makes me proud.
I can say that I really did something
and it wasn't nothing.
Allah hu Akbar!
Guys, there's a dirty in front of us.
Coming from the front.
Fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
She's a goner.
Alright, Almog.
-Good work.
Well done. Very good.
It's all thanks to me.
Once I get you going,
you're like wild animals.
Once I get you going,
you'll do great.
Suddenly, you feel like a soldier.
In terms of my performance,
I'm a great soldier.
It gave me a lot of strength.
I want to make more of an effort
and have better discipline.
It's important to me to be a leader,
because it gives you more confidence.
It makes you feel
like you aren't here for nothing,
you aren't wasting four months
on basic training
just to be another nobody.
Almog, Almog. Faster.
I can't. I'm too sore.
-I don't care.
Your name came up
way too often this week.
Yeah, I know. It was one hell of a goof.
A goof? You call that a goof?
Is that what you call a goof?
It was a mistake, yeah.
-A mistake?!
People die from things like that.
Prepare yourself for one hell of a consequence.
Get back in formation. Quickly.
I want to talk about basic human dignity.
Am I going to respect any person,
no matter who they are?
No.
-Yes.
No.
-No.
You're at a checkpoint.
An elderly Palestinian stops before you.
You know there's nothing in his car,
but when you ask him
to turn off his engine
and place his keys on the roof of his car,
then he...
rolls his eyes at you,
mutters Arabic curses under his breath.
I'll tear up his car.
He does everything apathetically.
And you're at the checkpoint,
and there's a line, and people are honking,
but it can't be helped,
you still need to check his ID.
Then when you ask for his ID
he starts to...
swear at you, but for real.
Will you tear up his car?
Yeah.
-No.
There's nothing in his car.
You know there isn't.
I'll detain him, yeah. Fuck him.
I don't need to search every vehicle?
-No.
Then no.
Almog, I really hope
that when you're on checkpoint duty
and someone looks at you funny,
if you don't have a reason to search his car
you won't detain him for no reason.
Grit your teeth as hard as you need to,
and let them go.
Alright, checkpoints, we get it.
Things happen at the checkpoint,
you'll get used to it,
to working with the Palestinian population.
Now you're making an arrest.
You've detained a suspect.
You're in his home,
you've probably trashed his house.
His kids probably saw it,
and you've damaged his honor
because you've arrested the man of the house.
People like that have no honor.
Why?
-Alright, why? -Because he's a terrorist.
Says who?
-He's not a terrorist. He's a suspect.
You arrest people for all sorts of reasons.
He could be a car thief.
So what?
Your job is
to bring this guy in for questioning.
They'll determine whether he's guilty
and will make him face justice.
If he needs to be in prison, he will be.
It's not up to you.
When there's a detainee at your feet
who's handcuffed and blindfolded,
and he's swearing at you,
he's helpless.
And it doesn't matter what he did,
you have no right and no legitimacy
to touch him.
Trust me, he will face justice.
But it's not up to you.
You're not the law.
You're not animals.
You're soldiers,
and how have the power.
And because you have the power,
you have to show restraint.
You can't do whatever you want
just because you can,
because you want to detain him on principle.
Not at all.
During the talk with the platoon commander
I realized the army's ethics
are in line with my values.
It changes your perception.
Being impulsive and hitting someone
who did something I don't like,
is conduct unbecoming a combat soldier.
And if you, as combat soldiers,
can't hold back and control yourselves,
you shouldn't be here.
Watches out.
Watches, Sergeant Major.
In the following time,
anyone who doesn't have their shoes shined
will go and take care of it.
Don't move.
Almog, I don't know.
Go get dressed properly.
During the company inspection,
I stood there in my uniform
and a black T-shirt underneath.
The Sergeant Major told me,
"Go change into a green T-shirt
"or take off your T-shirt."
Almog.
-What?
I'm off to change my shirt.
-Almog!
Come here.
Watches, Sergeant Major.
Abandoning your weapon?
What's wrong with you?
I went back to the room
and left without my weapon.
I'm so sore.
I can't run.
-Run there, run!
I can't.
Dammit, I left without my weapon
while all the commanders were outside.
They made me run back.
"The weapon!"
Who saw you?
-The platoon commander.
Almog, Almog. Faster.
I can't. I'm too sore.
-I don't care.
Your name came up way too often this week
when it comes to weapons.
You won't be here
if you can't be responsible for your weapon,
do you understand?
Yeah, I know. It was one hell of a goof.
A goof? You call that a goof?
Is that what you call a goof?
It was a mistake, yeah.
-A mistake?!
People die from things like that.
I'll say this very clearly
and I am not going to repeat myself.
This kind of thing
won't happen in my platoon.
Cool.
-Don't "Cool" me.
Stand properly, first of all.
Both hands on the weapon.
Do you think you can just
leave your weapon behind?
Do I need to explain what a suicidal soldier
might do with a found weapon?
Do I need to explain that to you?
No.
-You wanna know how often that happens?
And you still think it makes sense?
You think I'll send a soldier into the field
when he drops his weapon wherever he wants?
It was just in the room.
-You think I want to send you into the field
with a weapon?
Every two hours,
I want to see you standing
with a weapon and a magazine.
And if that won't work,
I'll attach the weapon to your uniform
and you won't be able to take it off at all.
Is that clear?
Yes, Platoon Commander.
Prepare yourself for one hell of a consequence.
Get back in formation. Quickly.
Commander Nehorai,
I don't want him in my formation.
Get him out of my sight.
Get out of here.
Go back to the room.
Come back when you're ready to be a soldier.
Look at him.
Shirt unbuttoned, never on time...
I'm so tired of this.
Fuck everyone.
They can suck it.
I was sent back to the room again.
I swear, I don't want to be here.
I want to get on a bus,
run to the gate.
Screw everyone.
I feel terrible.
I don't want to be problem kid.
The shit kid.
A lot of the time
I take things too far
and only realize what happened afterwards.
It sucks.
Brand is standing trial
before the battalion commander today.
I hope he gets kicked out.
That's where things are headed.
Let him get kicked out.
He said he'll fall in line,
that he gets it.
He hasn't.
-He hasn't fallen in any...
In any line.
In short,
he's full of bull.
For real.
Ready weapons!
Stand.
No, it's not happening today.
You can narrow your stance a bit.
What did we say?
Place it here.
We have a difficult decision on our hands.
What do we do with Avigail?
She needs to learn how to shoot.
It's very bad.
Raise your weapon properly.
But not too high.
I can't.
Look,
we have to motivate her.
We're starting to look to the future,
to the field,
to developing commanders,
and I'm sure she'll be a commander.
I don't doubt it.
She's at the top of the class
and she's smart.
I agree.
You know what I think?
-Yeah.
Avigail
should be a unit commander.
I'll take out the trash
Because my life is in the dumps
Don't want to crawl no more
Only to walk
Don't want to run no more
Only to walk
To barge...
Barge.
To charge at the hill
while walking
Don't want to crawl no more...
Alright, everyone stand in a U-formation.
You too, Avigail.
Alright, the unit commanders
are the people closest to me,
closest to the commander.
Why are they the closest?
Because the commander gives them orders
so they need to stay close.
The unit commander's job
is to organize you,
make sure you stay in line,
maintain your distance from each other.
We're doing this with without bullets,
but in future we will do this
with live ammo.
Avigail will be the unit commander.
Your area limits
are between this pole
and that barricade.
You give each of them their own area limits.
If anything happens,
this area is your responsibility.
Alright, great.
We're going up the hill
in a staggered line.
Heli will take two up front,
to the thing.
A unit commander has to stay sharp,
because things can change quickly
and you need to stay on top of it all.
Got it?
-Yeah. -Good.
Like, falling in line.
If you don't notice your unit isn't in line,
then as soon as things get real
and there's fire, it's your responsibility.
Go, charge in a single file!
Go, charge in a single file!
Fall down!
Fall down!
Excellent.
Get up, Avigail.
Good, take a look at your unit
and see how you can improve it.
Their line is good.
The path we came from is path 1,
the one that leads away from the base
is path 2. Alright?
Cool.
Go over there.
I think I'm right for it,
I think I have the right qualities
to be a commander.
The moment someone crosses that line,
or you see someone coming up
from over there, that's a red line.
Okay.
-That's it. Fire.
Great, Avigail. Excellent.
Alright, get up.
Good. And there's an attack to the left!
Attack to the left!
-Attack to the left!
Permission to get wet?
No!
-Avigail, it's all good.
Alright, we've been attacked.
Lie down, return fire.
Okay.
-It's alright. You're firing at terrorists.
Okay.
I need to flip the switch.
I have a responsibility. I'm in the army,
and my job is to protect people.
There are terrorists,
people who want to hurt us,
there are definitely people
who threaten Israel's security.
That's the truth.
Not everyone is a good person.
There are people you need to kill.
3C, 3B.
Tomer.
Come here.
What's up, Tomer?
I'm alright.
You're being sent
for assessment in sickbay.
What does that mean?
You'll fill in the forms tonight
and will continue from there
to a medics course that's starting next week.
Thanks.
I was so happy.
I really wanted that course.
As long as I'm a combat soldier,
I think that's
the most important job in the system.
We're still your commanders.
Feel free to call and ask us anything.
Commander Nehorai was a medic, too.
-Right.
Don't forget what you learned here, obviously.
Excel, earn that gold pin.
God willing.
What this means is that you probably
won't finish basic training with us.
You'll stay back
and complete your basic training
with the March 2018 cycle.
Alright, you can head back.
Starting medic training means
I'm leaving my friends behind.
These are my last moments
with the platoon.
We're saying a kind of goodbye to Tomer.
Tonight he's signing his leave forms
and going to Camp Ariel Sharon
to start training as a medic.
This essentially means that Tomer
is saying goodbye to the company
and striking out on his own.
We'll be 20 before I get back.
-You will.
It sucks, a little.
I mean...
When the platoon commander let me know,
I was a little disappointed.
But this is something I want
and something I wanted
before I enlisted in a combat unit.
I'll miss our dynamic and everything,
but...
We'll see each other in the field.
It can't be helped.
Sucks.
Don't worry, man. I'll bring it.
Why are you standing over there?
Alright, man.
Go, Tomer!
Everyone, give Tomer a group hug!
Everyone.
The people I met here...
I'm really sad to leave them.
They've really become my brothers and sisters.
Visit anytime.
I'll come and visit.
-We'd love to have you, man.
If you're home.
I'll make you come all the way here.
For real.
I didn't think I'd ever meet
a gay guy I'd be so close to.
It changes your way of thinking.
Alright, my man.
-I'm out.
Take care of yourself.
He's a strong guy.
Give 'em hell.
He's a great guy.
I'm a little jealous of you.
Not only are you gonna be a medic,
but you'll get a two-day weekend
for the next four months.
I'm sad it's happening.
Tomer's a great guy.
He's a pure soul.
Say hi to the outside world.
Good luck.
It's hard to say goodbye,
because we were all so close.
You're a great soldier.
Keep it up.
I'm sure you'll do great
and be at the top of your class next cycle.
Alright, get out of here.
I was really worried about basic training,
that people wouldn't accept me
or my orientation.
I thought I'd really suffer,
but everyone accepted me eventually.
I'll remember the people I met here
for a long time,
and we'll always be each other's family.
What can I say so they won't kick me out
of combat duty, of the battalion?
I made a bad mistake.
I know what I did,
I don't deny it.
Do you remember what to do?
Attention.
I'm standing trial
before the battalion commander today.
Man, suppose he kicks me out.
What will you do?
I'll stand trial too.
Get out of here.
Or I'll sink into depression
and won't talk to anyone.
I won't say a single word.
It'll be a problem.
What will?
If one of us gets kicked out.
I'll tell him,
"Listen, I came here with a lot of problems
"but I'm learning how to calm down,
count to ten, relax."
I'm learning it, over time.
I'm learning to listen to my commanders
and to start giving a fuck, you know?
The discipline here teaches us a lesson
not just for the army,
but for life in general.
How about it, Moshe?
Think we've changed while we've been here?
For sure, man.
-Right?
Did you ever get up early before this?
I always got up at noon.
-See?
Once, no matter what anyone said
I always said no.
"Talk to me later."
"Let me think about it."
-I automatically said no. Then...
"I'll consider it later."
Now, I do first and think later.
First I do, then I listen.
-Right.
Nowadays, when they tell me to sit, I sit.
We're like dogs, man.
We've been well-trained.
I feel like a pit bull.
One who doesn't care at all
till someone steps on his tail.
But your tail's been clipped.
What can I tell the battalion commander
to keep from being kicked out
of combat duty, of the battalion?
I made a bad mistake.
I know what I did.
I don't deny it.
I believe...
I can make it right.
I'm trying to change, really.
I want to change.
I'm here to change.
I'm getting there.
I don't always get it right.
I have an anger problem.
And it's hard...
It's hard to change.
I'm working on it.
Fix your beret.
Remember what to do?
Attention.
Your feet in a V-position,
hands behind your back.
I walked into his room with a salute,
wearing my beret.
He told me what the charges against me were.
I pleaded guilty.
I said I was sorry,
that it shouldn't have happened.
What happened, Almog?
Eight days in jail.
Fine. We'll get to see what jail's like.
What did he say at the trial?
That he...
The first thing he said was,
"I appreciate your honesty."
Because I admitted what happened, and...
He said, "I also appreciate
that you asked for forgiveness.
"It's why I'm not giving you 20 days."
Okay.
-And he said he'll considering
whether I should stay a combat soldier.
When I get back from jail,
we'll talk again.
I had a feeling
he'd send you to jail.
Is that cool?
Not good?
-Not very impressive.
Fine.
I hope it'll make you understand.
I assume you already understand.
Yeah.
-I'm assuming that's the case. Hope I'm right.
I've gotten the wake-up call
I needed.
These eight days
are time for you to think.
I'll have a lot of time to think.
I hope you'll spend those eight days
thinking long and hard
about where you are
and how you should improve.
Because jail is...
a turning point,
in your service and in life in general.
Speaking from my point of view,
from my experience.
-Right.
Hello.
What's up?
Fine. What happened?
I had my trial with the battalion commander.
-And?
Eight days in jail.
What?
-Eight days in jail.
Why? What did you do?
Are you stupid?
What do you want from me?
That's what he said.
What did you do?
I told you what I did.
I told you yesterday.
Are you stupid?
Don't you care?
Tell me, don't you care?
-Alright, bye.
Are you bored?
-Bye.
Almog...
Well?
What did the commander say?
That he'll let me know
whether I get to stay here.
Wow. What a mess.
A serious mess.
We'll see what happens.
When you get back,
tell him you'll do anything to stay.
I'll cry if you're taken off combat duty, man.
Promise?
-Promise.
You're such an ass.
That's not a wake-up call, man.
It's a kick in the head.
A punch in the face.
-One hell of a punch.
That's all you've got now.
Alright, let's hit the showers.
-Don't wanna.
Come on!
-I don't want to shower.
Come on, we'll put on some music.
Somebody stop me now
Give me back my mind
Because everyone is still asleep but I
can't find a moment's peace...
I'm tired of getting kicked in the teeth
here in the army.
I think about tomorrow,
and it really stresses me out.
How can I go to jail now?
I'm getting out of here now.
I'm gonna disappear.
Almog.
Come here.
You've got your field uniform?
Yeah.
-You've packed your field uniform?
Will you change into it there?
You're not gonna be in service dress there.
No, my field uniform's ready.
Your commander will be here in a second.
You'll sign your leave forms,
and then a vehicle will come
and take you to be detained in Ovda.
I didn't have the guts to do it,
to throw it all away.
Jail? I can't imagine what it'll be like.
You don't know what'll happen,
what it will be like.
It's...
scary.
I don't want to go through that ever again.
Maybe that's what will make the difference.
Mistakes are how you learn.
Once you get punished for something,
it finally enters your head
and stays there.
I hope it'll start to change
the way I think.
I really want it to.
Alright, get in position.
I just need to shoot.
Cheek against the stock.
Now look through the sight,
towards your target.
I said, alright.
This is a goal I need to set for myself.
I need to do my best
and I need to protect my home.
I need to do the right thing.
I'm a combat soldier.
---
The formation will stand at attention.
Attention!
I swear!
Look at this mess, Almog.
What do you want from me?
My mother always says
I'm the spoiled baby of the house.
Move.
I always got my way,
no matter what.
The army isn't summer camp,
it isn't school.
The commanders call the shots.
They may be just a few months older than you,
but they will tell you what to do.
Learn to accept that.
In the seventh grade
I joined the Netanya municipal student council.
I was their spokesperson for two years.
I'm very ambitious.
I've spoken at the Knesset.
When I have a goal in mind,
I work hard to achieve it.
Ready.
-Tell me, aren't you worried?
What's the worst that could happen?
I'm attracted to boys.
Move, fag.
How can I tell them?
How can I come out to these people?
People might not accept me.
When I call Noam or someone a fag,
and you hear that,
do you take it personally?
Yeah. Totally.
I feel less respected, as a person.
During our talk I realized he's a strong guy.
He's been through a lot.
Let me tell you something,
army friends are friends for life.
Let me lay down on the dunes
Let the muses thunder on
Let me lay down with each stride...
What's a stride?
"With each stride."
I don't know what "stride" means.
In short, treat the IDF with pride, man.
-Yeah.
You know something, Moshe?
-Well?
I finally understand the saying,
"the field is home,
"the base is a hotel
and home is just a dream."
For real, man.
At first I thought it was bullshit.
Nothing about the stupid base was like a hotel.
But man, it was a seven-star luxury.
Look around at what we have now.
Nothing. Rocks.
-Right.
I'm sleeping on the ground,
without a sleeping bag.
I don't have a sleeping bag.
I offered.
I'm not sharing your sleeping bag, man.
-I offered.
I'm not sharing your sleeping bag.
-I did offer.
Why would I share your sleeping bag?
-I offered to open it up for two,
but you didn't want to.
-Well, we'll do it tonight.
Tonight. Let's do it.
We'll use it to cover up?
-Yeah.
But we'll have to huddle close.
-No problem, man.
Just, you know,
no... no moving.
We'll wake up the way we went to sleep.
And no funny business.
What exactly are you doing?
Come here.
What's this? Is this beyond the line?
It's live-fire territory, right?
Yeah, live-fire territory.
-Then get out.
Can't we lean against the wall?
-No.
Let me lay down on the dunes
Let the muses thunder on
Let me lay down with each stride
And treat the IDF with pride
Man, I haven't changed my socks
since Sunday.
I swear.
Almog?
-Yeah?
Here, your mom dropped off
a package for you at the gate.
She brought me all this?
Sure.
-Nice.
More chocolate.
More chocolate.
Platoon 3, in the following time
I want you in a U-formation.
30 seconds, go.
My weapon.
What's wrong with me?
I don't even know where mine is.
Where's your weapon?
Listen, I don't have my weapon.
Where's your weapon?
-Whose weapon is this?
Whose gun is on my bed?
-Whose is this?
I've got an abandoned weapon.
In your squad?
-Yeah. Almog, again.
This has to be the sixth time
he's abandoned his weapon this week.
We need to do something about him.
To receive Commander Nehorai,
Squad 3A will stand at attention.
Attention.
What do you think you're doing?
You never let go of your weapon.
24/7. You cuddle it in your sleep.
If you need me to tie it to your arms,
to your body, I'll do it.
Get out of here.
I'm heading out for a smoke,
if anyone wants to join me.
I want one, too.
Come on, bro.
Let's go.
Almog, where's your weapon?
I don't believe it.
I don't believe it, man.
I see him jumping out of that wall, man.
-Come on, man.
Enough.
Just like he abandoned his weapon
in his room,
he could abandon it on the bus,
in a restaurant,
at the central bus station.
Carrying a weapon is a big responsibility.
It's a killing machine.
It may be the most important thing
they'll ever be responsible for.
Weapon!
-Weapon.
Load!
-Load.
Weapons at the ready!
Weapons at the ready!
Terrorist!
Terrorist!
It's been a month since we've gotten our guns,
everyone's at the shooting range
but I'm the only one
who hasn't managed to fire yet.
I'm all stressed out.
You have to grit your teeth
and fire these five bullets, alright?
Again.
Assume the correct position
and fire your five bullets at the target.
You know how to aim, right?
To the center.
Breath out,
keep your eyes open.
Try it.
Slowly, slowly, slowly.
It just really scares me.
At the end of the day, I'm carrying
a killing machine.
It's scary.
It's 4.2 lbs. of iron
and about 4 tons of responsibility
that's resting on my shoulders.
Try placing it like this.
Is that better?
No.
We're shooting at cardboard targets,
but it could just as easily be people.
We're shooting at center mass,
but "center mass" belongs to people,
not cardboard targets.
I just can't do it.
I really tried,
but ultimately I couldn't shoot.
It raises a very difficult moral dilemma
that's hard for me to handle.
Welcome from Lebanon!
Welcome from Israel!
At the end of the 10th grade
I left to study at an international school
in Bosnia and Herzegovina.
I had friends from...
hostile countries.
From Syria, Lebanon, Egypt, Yemen.
I got to know their stories
and learned things
most people don't ever hear about.
It really shifted my perspective,
it shattered a lot of the myths
I'd believed growing up.
Do your friends from Bosnia
know you're a combat soldier, with a weapon?
I don't talk to them about that.
I see the army as one thing,
but they see it as something else.
And... I know they've been hurt before
by things Israel did, and all that.
So it'll be hard for them
to see me in uniform.
Some of them will unfriend me on Facebook
and will stop talking to me.
Israelis who are conscientious objectors
get more respect.
Wait, so did you not listen in class?
Did you fail your classes?
-Why?
Not only are you enlisting,
but you're going into a combat role.
I told myself
that as long as I'm enlisting,
I may as well go into a combat role
and then I can make up my own mind...
They keep talking
about all the awful things
the army is supposedly doing,
but you can't know
if they're really happening.
If I have the right, or the duty,
to enlist,
then I'll do it
and I'll see for myself
what's really going on.
And if I find out they really are happening,
then I'll know it isn't the right place for me.
Get out your phones
and return to a U-formation. I'm timing you.
Almog.
Almog! Almog!
Almog!
-Almog!
Almog!
Almog!
Are you pretending you can't hear us?
What's going on?
-Nothing.
Come on, tell me outside.
Almog.
Come outside and talk to me.
Come.
What's wrong?
Answer me when I talk to you.
That's thing one.
Get me my meds when I ask for them.
That's thing one.
-First of all, sort out your appearance.
Don't talk to me like that.
Sort out your appearance.
Quickly!
That week,
the pile-driver thing we use to hammer pegs
fell on my pinky,
split it in two.
The doctor gave me two prescriptions.
Do up that button.
-It's torn.
I still haven't gotten those meds.
I don't want to follow the schedule
until I get those meds,
until they let me take care of myself.
Why aren't you wearing a belt?
It must be in the room.
Not an option.
Go and get your belt,
and sort out your appearance, now.
I don't know where it is.
I'm changing into my sweatpants,
he can wait.
He thinks I'm gonna
sort myself out for him.
Give me your phone.
I think you forgot something.
That's the third time today.
-You're driving me crazy.
The third time.
-Eighth.
Platoon 2's sergeant
also caught you without your weapon.
I've abandoned my weapon
three times in the past two days.
When there's too much going on in the moment
and the weapon isn't right in front of you,
you forget.
I just leave it.
I'm not used to it yet.
What is it?
Why do I have to wait
four days for medication?
There are logistical constraints.
-What does that mean?
Why can't I get them?
-Shut up for a second.
Don't talk back to me.
-Okay.
Let me speak
and don't interrupt me. Understood?
Understood?
-Understood.
Understood, what?
-Understood, Commander Nehorai.
Good.
Don't play with the weapon
like it was a guitar.
The pharmacy was closed today,
and some things take precedence.
Some people's injuries
are much worse than yours.
Wait a while.
It won't kill you, believe me.
Anything else?
I don't know. I can't do anything.
My finger hurts.
It's just a finger.
You shot very well today.
I shot great.
-Come here.
Almog.
-Forget it, I'm tired. -Almog.
Leave me alone, Commander.
-Almog, I'm talking to you.
Leave me alone.
-Almog, it'd be a shame if you got in trouble.
I'm trying to help you out.
-I won't get in trouble.
I don't want you to get in trouble, Almog.
What is it? I'm tired, Commander.
-I'm tired too. Come here.
Commander...
-Not now.
First of all, don't walk away
while I'm talking to you.
Second, I'm your commander
and you do as I say.
I don't care if you don't like it.
I really don't.
-That so?
Third, I'll have you know
you've abandoned your weapon three times today.
There will be consequences.
-Cool.
Cool, what?
Cool, Commander Nehorai.
-It's not cool.
Don't tell me it's cool.
Alright, Commander Nehorai.
"Yes, Commander Nehorai."
-Yes, Commander Nehorai.
Expect to be hit. Big time.
-Got it.
A bullet to the head.
-Something that'll put you out of commission...
A bullet to the head.
-For a long time. -Got it.
Get back to your room.
I'm the youngest of four boys.
I grew up in a house
where I always got whatever I wanted,
starting with clothes,
any shoes that I wanted,
no matter the cost.
For example,
when I wanted the PlayStation 3,
I was one
of the first kids in Israel to get one.
People cut me a lot of slack along the way.
Teachers at school, my parents,
they always cut corners.
But when you get to the army, you're nothing.
Nothing at all.
It's a new experience. It's weird. I...
It hasn't sunk in.
What's up? How do you feel?
Terrible.
What happened?
I'm on strike, Mom.
You're what?
-I'm on strike. I'm ignoring the schedule.
Fuck them.
Stop talking nonsense, alright?
That's enough, Almog.
I tired of this.
-Mom, they won't give me my meds.
Fine, that's how it goes in the army.
It could take up a week to get your meds.
Don't go on any strike.
-I'm on strike,
and they can all go fuck themselves.
Almog, stop this behavior. You can't do that.
That's what they get. Fuck them.
You can't do that.
Beat some sense into him.
-What? -He's on strike.
"Beat some sense into him."
What does that mean, "you're on strike"?
It's like I'm not there.
I'm ignoring the commanders.
Listen to me.
It sounds like you think
you're in summer camp.
Not summer camp, but what the hell?
You can't go whatever you want.
This isn't high school.
Ask to see a doctor,
but meanwhile, do as you're told.
Don't be a snowflake.
No, I've seen how things work around here.
They only understand force.
If you don't use force,
they ignore you.
Fine, do whatever you want.
But don't be a bigger pussy than the girls.
That's all I can say.
We approach in a straight line,
so that any terrorist in area
can be shot.
We advance like this, with fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
It's great I can pretend
to shoot in a dry drill.
But if I actually encounter a terrorist,
I don't know
whether I'll actually do these things.
I might just freeze on the spot,
and be like...
Eliminated!
This entire platoon has been eliminated.
Okay, you've eliminated the enemy.
There's a dead terrorist here,
so walk past him. Go on, pass him by.
Walk, walk.
Then you lie down,
in case there's another terrorist waiting.
But shouldn't we make sure he's really dead?
What if he's just pretending
and then shoots us in the back?
Serious question.
-We'll see it. While we're walking by
we can look to make sure he's really dead.
Commander Odelia,
what happens if he's alive and I...
How do I turn my back on him?
-What if he gets up behind us?
It's up to the commander to decide.
But dead-checking isn't allowed.
-What?
Dead-checking isn't allowed.
-Exactly, so you'll probably just...
Wait, so I just stand in front of him
with my weapon and say,
"Commander, can you come over
and tell me whether to shoot?" -Yes.
If he's still shooting at you,
still a threat, kill him.
If he's no longer a threat,
if he's just lying down,
then he gets evacuated, treated for injuries
and sent to jail. Cool?
Yes, Commander.
-If he's still a threat,
still got his weapon trained on you,
if he's still alive and just missing a leg,
kill him.
It's just insane,
the thought that I might have
to kill people one day.
Alright, girls.
Shall we go through it again?
I want to.
-Yeah.
If I have to kill someone
in order to protect others,
that what I'm expected to do
and chances are that I'll do it,
as hard as that is.
I'm scared of the weapon.
I don't know if it'll ever feel natural
to be walking around with a fucking weapon.
Why should I get used
to walking around with a fucking...
Weapon.
-Killer. -This thing that...
Yeah, it's a little killer.
It's like a killer kid that just...
-It's not that little.
No matter, it's this killer kid
that's hanging around my neck.
A moment ago I was a civilian,
now I'm supposed to be a combat soldier.
I'm scared.
I don't know if I'm ready for that.
I'm concerned that the people around me
don't think about
what it means to have a weapon,
what it means to go through basic training
and what it means
to do this thing and be part of...
What it means to be wearing this uniform.
And it scares me to think
that I might actually get used to it.
We can't ignore the fact
that we do need an army.
On the other hand,
it's weird that 18 year-olds
enlist in the army and carry weapons
and go out to arrest people.
It's wrong, Na'ama.
It doesn't make sense
that at any moment I can...
It's cute that you think it's wrong.
-Kill people.
It's just that.
-I think you're overreacting.
If you don't think about it, it...
-I think you're exaggerating.
Not at all.
-Now that I'm a soldier,
it's not like the first thing I want to do
is barge into
a family's living room to shoot them.
I don't think of it that way.
-That's not what I think.
That's not why I enlisted,
and it doesn't matter what I need...
-Why did you enlist? To defend?
Absolutely, to defend.
We're here to defend our home, our country.
Our purpose isn't to murder people.
You're given a weapon
because that's how you defend yourself.
If there was a way
to take a step back during the war
and have a conversation,
then I think they'd give you
a pen and paper.
There are rules
about how to shoot, when, what...
And who, and why.
That's why there's a selection process.
There's a selection process.
Not everyone can be a combat soldier.
I'm glad it's girls like you
who have firepower,
instead of some dumbass.
Start on the right.
Two groups of three.
Bon Appetite.
Alright, give me some,
just so he'll leave me alone.
Give me just a little bit.
That's enough.
Aren't you hungry today?
-I'm on strike.
I won't eat this, either.
I just put it on my plate
so the commander won't bug me about it.
I heard a rumor
someone in my squad refuses to eat.
I refuse to eat.
-I don't care.
I won't eat.
-You will.
We'll see who eats.
Eat something. Come on.
-I'm not hungry! Should I force myself?
I'll vomit. Don't be a jackass.
It'll keep him from fucking with you.
Let him. I'm not afraid of him.
Almog, talk again
and you're out of the formation.
And don't tell me it wasn't you.
I swear it wasn't me.
-Right, it wasn't. -Swear to God.
Don't talk back, Almog. Shut up!
He yells at me
in front of the entire platoon.
He irritates me, gets me going.
I need some minimal respect.
You can't respect someone
who doesn't respect you.
No matter who it is.
Almog, plank position.
I can't. My hand hurts.
It's fine. You can do it.
-No, I can't.
Plank position now! Did I stutter?
I can never shut up.
I always talk back.
I'm hot-headed. There's no stopping me.
Platoon 3,
everyone get into plank position.
-What?
Plank position.
This is fun.
Almog is being a bully.
This is the stuff
that screws us over.
One!
-Stay down.
Stay down.
-I can't.
I'm sick of this place, man.
I'm going to bed.
Leave me alone.
-Why are you so bummed?
Is it the finger?
The finger is nothing.
This is about respect.
When I don't get respect, I go crazy.
I get up and leave.
Well, there's nothing you can do.
And you know, you...
You're looking for trouble.
He tells you to shut up,
and you talk back.
Fuck them all. I'm on strike.
I'm also in pain,
I pulled a muscle really bad.
I can't walk, can't run.
But I don't say that I'm on strike.
I'm on strike. They can go to hell.
Seriously, don't do it.
I'm on strike!
They'll fuck you over.
-Let them.
Why? It'll be a shame.
-Let them fuck me over.
But not because you're trouble.
Sure I'm trouble. That's all I am.
If you cause trouble,
you'll pay for it twice over.
That's the only way they'll learn.
That's how they treat you.
That's how they treat you.
-Babe, you're not running the army.
The army runs you.
They decide when you see your parents,
they decide when you get to see your family,
they decide when you get out...
Then I'll go.
-The make your schedule.
Then go.
I want to see you do it.
I will.
Is the guard at the gate gonna stop me?
The gate's open, I can leave.
You're just asking for trouble.
The boys kill me.
It's like a new level of stupid.
They're acting like 12 year-olds.
Do you get along with them?
Honestly, now I get along with them.
I just try to do my best
to meet them halfway and help them.
If someone's having trouble
with their water canteen, or just...
Right.
-I show them I'm there for them, and... -Yeah.
I try... I mean, I hope
they'll be there for me, too.
-Right.
How do you feel about the weapon?
I love her. Einav.
My sweet Einav.
Wasn't it hard for you,
the idea of carrying a weapon around?
It's a little hard for me
to hear the examples they use,
like, "What if a terrorist comes at you?"
It's hard to think we're the ones who'll...
-Yeah.
Have to do it.
-On the front lines.
It's hard for me to think
that I've got a weapon, the ability to kill.
It feels so unnatural,
and then I get scared
that it'll start to feel natural.
Because it's not natural for an 18 year-old
to be walking around with a gun.
True, it's... -But it's also
not natural that I'm a soldier, and...
still feel uncomfortable holding a weapon.
I mean, I volunteered for this.
Right. -It's different for you.
You didn't have a choice. -Right.
When I got that text...
Alright, fine.
-Did you want to go into co-ed combat?
No.
-What did you want?
The thing I want most
is to become a medic.
That's something I've always wanted to do.
I'd be thrilled
if I got into that course.
That could totally happen.
Listen up, shooters.
This is how it's gonna go.
The guides' job
is to make sure no one charges ahead
on their own.
Your friends are with you,
and no one wants to be shot in the back
and definitely doesn't want
to shoot their friend in the back.
Understood?
Understood, Platoon Commander.
Alright? One step, bullet.
Step, bullet. Step, bullet.
Step, bullet.
The closer you get,
the higher your aim.
30 feet away from the target
you should be aiming for the head,
or the neck.
Is that clear?
-Yes, Platoon Commander.
You have 15 bullets.
Don't wait for the "cease fire".
Empty your magazine.
Begin live-fire drill!
Begin live-fire drill!
Fire!
Fire! Fire!
Lower your weapons,
stay by the target.
You keep aiming
at the same place. That's wrong.
One bullet or two
to the stomach or the pelvis
won't kill anyone.
The neck, the head, that'll kill them.
This gets them out of a PTA meeting.
One.
Who hit the heart? No one.
Your goal should be
to charge at bodies,
not at live terrorists.
Not at anything that can stand, talk,
breathe, groan.
What are your weapons for?
Alright, Avigail.
I just can't do it.
It's just hard for me.
Honestly, when it comes to morality,
I have no business being in the IDF
if my morality is...
that I can't kill anyone.
Guns are for killing people.
You need to know you're training to kill.
You're not training so you can...
play at the shooting range.
As soon as I see someone with a knife
who's a danger to you,
or you...
Is he carrying a knife
or is he about to pull one out?
Or to Ahmed the civilian, cool?
What will you do?
-If he's a danger to them, I'll kill him.
A terrorist walks into
the Beersheba central bus station.
Someone, not you,
shoots him in the knee.
Someone neutralizes him,
takes away his knife,
ties him up.
Then it's out of my hand.
It's up to the law now. -Right.
There are people in this platoon
who got their weapon and were all,
"Oh, this is so cool.
It's like paintball!"
It's not cool. It kills people.
Right.
-People die for nothing. -It should kill.
I really think it's wrong.
Why? Because I'm an 18 year-old kid
who's been given a weapon,
who's responsible for this country.
Honestly, the first night
we slept with our weapons,
I couldn't fall sleep.
-But you need to stop thinking
of yourself as an 18 year-old kid.
You're a soldier, not a kid.
It's true.
I can't get used to the idea
that I'm a combat soldier.
Put it on my shoulder.
Against my shoulder.
Thanks.
Butch!
Did you notice
everyone started calling me Butch?
Did you notice that?
Butch? Is that in Hebrew?
You're asking what it means?
-Yes.
A big girl. A gorilla.
A fat girl, like a gorilla.
A masculine girl.
A masculine girl,
or a fat girl? Explain.
-It's both.
You honestly don't know
why they call me Butch?
It's because I said,
"What do you think of the girls here?
"They're all butch. Yuck.
I wouldn't go near them."
Moshe said,
"You look like a butch girl."
And then the name stuck.
Butch!
Did someone call me Butch?
Butch.
Come here, you're standing trial.
Oh, there's a trial?
Damn, my beret is back at the tent.
Attention, Company Commander.
At ease.
Come on in.
How are you?
-God bless.
Do you know why you're here?
A lot of discipline issues.
Talking back.
Multiple instances of weapon abandonment,
failure to meet your schedule,
problems with your appearance.
You get that a lot.
Discarded gear.
And worst of all, in my opinion,
is talking back to the staff.
Your punishment
is confinement to base for the weekend.
This weekend?
-Yes. You'll stay here this weekend.
That's all. Anything to say?
That makes it 28 days at the base, right?
Yes.
We stayed on base the week before,
when we were supposed to go home
and stay on base the week after that.
So it ends up being 3 weekends in a row.
28 days.
What I want you to know
is that this is a clean slate.
This punishment won't stain you, alright?
You'll be punished,
and we'll move on.
Once we see you
accept this confinement
and take responsibility for your actions
in a mature way,
the only way for you is up.
Thank you.
I left annoyed and pissed off.
How many times can they punish me
and keep me away from home?
Anyone calling out times?
We're in the room,
just so you can see how empty it is.
I'm so alone.
There's no one here.
You sit on your bed
like a sad loser.
It's hard,
seeing everyone leave.
It sucks.
Another weekend here at the base,
another one on the way
to that crappy 28th day.
It's hard, this whole thing.
You don't get to see your ex,
your home,
your parents, your family,
your friends.
You can't go out. You're stuck here all day.
It takes strength to get through this army.
They teach you
that everything you do
is noted and remembered,
and you get punished for it.
And that's hard.
This room looks big, doesn't it?
You have no idea how tiny it is.
Oh, man.
It'll get better at some point.
For sure.
What's up?
Come, sit.
I want you to use this opportunity
to think things over.
"What did I do?
Where did I go wrong?"
You could be the best soldier in the squad.
Honestly,
I'm not just saying it.
But you choose to be all over the place
and not do anything you're told.
I want you to lead the squad.
Right, I can see how I could.
I see there are moments
where no matter how loud they're talking,
as soon as I open my mouth
they shut up and listen.
It happens a lot.
Be the center of attention,
but in a good way.
From now on,
I want you to promise
that you'll stop fooling around
and do a 180.
Enough. Clear slate.
Seriously, enough.
I just want you to understand
where you made a mistake,
and draw a line
so you can make it better.
Alright?
-Yeah.
Great.
It made me feel like I want to change,
to take things seriously
and prove to them
that I can do more.
And if I can do it, why shouldn't I?
Alright, we'll do it like this:
Almog, you command the unit.
You guys cover.
We're heading for the ridge we came from,
towards the stream.
Alright. Walking order, two lines.
Two lines...
-I've already divided them.
Don't forget to stay in a perfect line.
Get a move on. Come on!
Go on, Magad. Come on.
It's all good. Let's go.
Alright, crouch.
Almog.
There's a suspicious object there.
What do I need you to do?
If there's an attack,
you just return fire.
The important thing is to cover me.
Alright. Get going.
After all my fuck-ups
these past few days,
I'm going to take this unit commander drill
very seriously.
I just want to prove how good I am.
You, prone position
facing in that direction.
You can move forward a bit.
Almog!
Brief them in a crouch,
while they're crouching.
Face that ravine over there.
Over there. Over there.
-What do I do?
Come here.
Get into a prone position,
facing this way.
Here, right on this hill.
With all this gear?
-Yeah. - I can't do it.
Get down... Lie down here.
Lie down.
Good.
I saw that I have power within the squad.
My word matters,
I can get people to follow me.
It makes me proud.
I can say that I really did something
and it wasn't nothing.
Allah hu Akbar!
Guys, there's a dirty in front of us.
Coming from the front.
Fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
Fire, fire, fire!
She's a goner.
Alright, Almog.
-Good work.
Well done. Very good.
It's all thanks to me.
Once I get you going,
you're like wild animals.
Once I get you going,
you'll do great.
Suddenly, you feel like a soldier.
In terms of my performance,
I'm a great soldier.
It gave me a lot of strength.
I want to make more of an effort
and have better discipline.
It's important to me to be a leader,
because it gives you more confidence.
It makes you feel
like you aren't here for nothing,
you aren't wasting four months
on basic training
just to be another nobody.
Almog, Almog. Faster.
I can't. I'm too sore.
-I don't care.
Your name came up
way too often this week.
Yeah, I know. It was one hell of a goof.
A goof? You call that a goof?
Is that what you call a goof?
It was a mistake, yeah.
-A mistake?!
People die from things like that.
Prepare yourself for one hell of a consequence.
Get back in formation. Quickly.
I want to talk about basic human dignity.
Am I going to respect any person,
no matter who they are?
No.
-Yes.
No.
-No.
You're at a checkpoint.
An elderly Palestinian stops before you.
You know there's nothing in his car,
but when you ask him
to turn off his engine
and place his keys on the roof of his car,
then he...
rolls his eyes at you,
mutters Arabic curses under his breath.
I'll tear up his car.
He does everything apathetically.
And you're at the checkpoint,
and there's a line, and people are honking,
but it can't be helped,
you still need to check his ID.
Then when you ask for his ID
he starts to...
swear at you, but for real.
Will you tear up his car?
Yeah.
-No.
There's nothing in his car.
You know there isn't.
I'll detain him, yeah. Fuck him.
I don't need to search every vehicle?
-No.
Then no.
Almog, I really hope
that when you're on checkpoint duty
and someone looks at you funny,
if you don't have a reason to search his car
you won't detain him for no reason.
Grit your teeth as hard as you need to,
and let them go.
Alright, checkpoints, we get it.
Things happen at the checkpoint,
you'll get used to it,
to working with the Palestinian population.
Now you're making an arrest.
You've detained a suspect.
You're in his home,
you've probably trashed his house.
His kids probably saw it,
and you've damaged his honor
because you've arrested the man of the house.
People like that have no honor.
Why?
-Alright, why? -Because he's a terrorist.
Says who?
-He's not a terrorist. He's a suspect.
You arrest people for all sorts of reasons.
He could be a car thief.
So what?
Your job is
to bring this guy in for questioning.
They'll determine whether he's guilty
and will make him face justice.
If he needs to be in prison, he will be.
It's not up to you.
When there's a detainee at your feet
who's handcuffed and blindfolded,
and he's swearing at you,
he's helpless.
And it doesn't matter what he did,
you have no right and no legitimacy
to touch him.
Trust me, he will face justice.
But it's not up to you.
You're not the law.
You're not animals.
You're soldiers,
and how have the power.
And because you have the power,
you have to show restraint.
You can't do whatever you want
just because you can,
because you want to detain him on principle.
Not at all.
During the talk with the platoon commander
I realized the army's ethics
are in line with my values.
It changes your perception.
Being impulsive and hitting someone
who did something I don't like,
is conduct unbecoming a combat soldier.
And if you, as combat soldiers,
can't hold back and control yourselves,
you shouldn't be here.
Watches out.
Watches, Sergeant Major.
In the following time,
anyone who doesn't have their shoes shined
will go and take care of it.
Don't move.
Almog, I don't know.
Go get dressed properly.
During the company inspection,
I stood there in my uniform
and a black T-shirt underneath.
The Sergeant Major told me,
"Go change into a green T-shirt
"or take off your T-shirt."
Almog.
-What?
I'm off to change my shirt.
-Almog!
Come here.
Watches, Sergeant Major.
Abandoning your weapon?
What's wrong with you?
I went back to the room
and left without my weapon.
I'm so sore.
I can't run.
-Run there, run!
I can't.
Dammit, I left without my weapon
while all the commanders were outside.
They made me run back.
"The weapon!"
Who saw you?
-The platoon commander.
Almog, Almog. Faster.
I can't. I'm too sore.
-I don't care.
Your name came up way too often this week
when it comes to weapons.
You won't be here
if you can't be responsible for your weapon,
do you understand?
Yeah, I know. It was one hell of a goof.
A goof? You call that a goof?
Is that what you call a goof?
It was a mistake, yeah.
-A mistake?!
People die from things like that.
I'll say this very clearly
and I am not going to repeat myself.
This kind of thing
won't happen in my platoon.
Cool.
-Don't "Cool" me.
Stand properly, first of all.
Both hands on the weapon.
Do you think you can just
leave your weapon behind?
Do I need to explain what a suicidal soldier
might do with a found weapon?
Do I need to explain that to you?
No.
-You wanna know how often that happens?
And you still think it makes sense?
You think I'll send a soldier into the field
when he drops his weapon wherever he wants?
It was just in the room.
-You think I want to send you into the field
with a weapon?
Every two hours,
I want to see you standing
with a weapon and a magazine.
And if that won't work,
I'll attach the weapon to your uniform
and you won't be able to take it off at all.
Is that clear?
Yes, Platoon Commander.
Prepare yourself for one hell of a consequence.
Get back in formation. Quickly.
Commander Nehorai,
I don't want him in my formation.
Get him out of my sight.
Get out of here.
Go back to the room.
Come back when you're ready to be a soldier.
Look at him.
Shirt unbuttoned, never on time...
I'm so tired of this.
Fuck everyone.
They can suck it.
I was sent back to the room again.
I swear, I don't want to be here.
I want to get on a bus,
run to the gate.
Screw everyone.
I feel terrible.
I don't want to be problem kid.
The shit kid.
A lot of the time
I take things too far
and only realize what happened afterwards.
It sucks.
Brand is standing trial
before the battalion commander today.
I hope he gets kicked out.
That's where things are headed.
Let him get kicked out.
He said he'll fall in line,
that he gets it.
He hasn't.
-He hasn't fallen in any...
In any line.
In short,
he's full of bull.
For real.
Ready weapons!
Stand.
No, it's not happening today.
You can narrow your stance a bit.
What did we say?
Place it here.
We have a difficult decision on our hands.
What do we do with Avigail?
She needs to learn how to shoot.
It's very bad.
Raise your weapon properly.
But not too high.
I can't.
Look,
we have to motivate her.
We're starting to look to the future,
to the field,
to developing commanders,
and I'm sure she'll be a commander.
I don't doubt it.
She's at the top of the class
and she's smart.
I agree.
You know what I think?
-Yeah.
Avigail
should be a unit commander.
I'll take out the trash
Because my life is in the dumps
Don't want to crawl no more
Only to walk
Don't want to run no more
Only to walk
To barge...
Barge.
To charge at the hill
while walking
Don't want to crawl no more...
Alright, everyone stand in a U-formation.
You too, Avigail.
Alright, the unit commanders
are the people closest to me,
closest to the commander.
Why are they the closest?
Because the commander gives them orders
so they need to stay close.
The unit commander's job
is to organize you,
make sure you stay in line,
maintain your distance from each other.
We're doing this with without bullets,
but in future we will do this
with live ammo.
Avigail will be the unit commander.
Your area limits
are between this pole
and that barricade.
You give each of them their own area limits.
If anything happens,
this area is your responsibility.
Alright, great.
We're going up the hill
in a staggered line.
Heli will take two up front,
to the thing.
A unit commander has to stay sharp,
because things can change quickly
and you need to stay on top of it all.
Got it?
-Yeah. -Good.
Like, falling in line.
If you don't notice your unit isn't in line,
then as soon as things get real
and there's fire, it's your responsibility.
Go, charge in a single file!
Go, charge in a single file!
Fall down!
Fall down!
Excellent.
Get up, Avigail.
Good, take a look at your unit
and see how you can improve it.
Their line is good.
The path we came from is path 1,
the one that leads away from the base
is path 2. Alright?
Cool.
Go over there.
I think I'm right for it,
I think I have the right qualities
to be a commander.
The moment someone crosses that line,
or you see someone coming up
from over there, that's a red line.
Okay.
-That's it. Fire.
Great, Avigail. Excellent.
Alright, get up.
Good. And there's an attack to the left!
Attack to the left!
-Attack to the left!
Permission to get wet?
No!
-Avigail, it's all good.
Alright, we've been attacked.
Lie down, return fire.
Okay.
-It's alright. You're firing at terrorists.
Okay.
I need to flip the switch.
I have a responsibility. I'm in the army,
and my job is to protect people.
There are terrorists,
people who want to hurt us,
there are definitely people
who threaten Israel's security.
That's the truth.
Not everyone is a good person.
There are people you need to kill.
3C, 3B.
Tomer.
Come here.
What's up, Tomer?
I'm alright.
You're being sent
for assessment in sickbay.
What does that mean?
You'll fill in the forms tonight
and will continue from there
to a medics course that's starting next week.
Thanks.
I was so happy.
I really wanted that course.
As long as I'm a combat soldier,
I think that's
the most important job in the system.
We're still your commanders.
Feel free to call and ask us anything.
Commander Nehorai was a medic, too.
-Right.
Don't forget what you learned here, obviously.
Excel, earn that gold pin.
God willing.
What this means is that you probably
won't finish basic training with us.
You'll stay back
and complete your basic training
with the March 2018 cycle.
Alright, you can head back.
Starting medic training means
I'm leaving my friends behind.
These are my last moments
with the platoon.
We're saying a kind of goodbye to Tomer.
Tonight he's signing his leave forms
and going to Camp Ariel Sharon
to start training as a medic.
This essentially means that Tomer
is saying goodbye to the company
and striking out on his own.
We'll be 20 before I get back.
-You will.
It sucks, a little.
I mean...
When the platoon commander let me know,
I was a little disappointed.
But this is something I want
and something I wanted
before I enlisted in a combat unit.
I'll miss our dynamic and everything,
but...
We'll see each other in the field.
It can't be helped.
Sucks.
Don't worry, man. I'll bring it.
Why are you standing over there?
Alright, man.
Go, Tomer!
Everyone, give Tomer a group hug!
Everyone.
The people I met here...
I'm really sad to leave them.
They've really become my brothers and sisters.
Visit anytime.
I'll come and visit.
-We'd love to have you, man.
If you're home.
I'll make you come all the way here.
For real.
I didn't think I'd ever meet
a gay guy I'd be so close to.
It changes your way of thinking.
Alright, my man.
-I'm out.
Take care of yourself.
He's a strong guy.
Give 'em hell.
He's a great guy.
I'm a little jealous of you.
Not only are you gonna be a medic,
but you'll get a two-day weekend
for the next four months.
I'm sad it's happening.
Tomer's a great guy.
He's a pure soul.
Say hi to the outside world.
Good luck.
It's hard to say goodbye,
because we were all so close.
You're a great soldier.
Keep it up.
I'm sure you'll do great
and be at the top of your class next cycle.
Alright, get out of here.
I was really worried about basic training,
that people wouldn't accept me
or my orientation.
I thought I'd really suffer,
but everyone accepted me eventually.
I'll remember the people I met here
for a long time,
and we'll always be each other's family.
What can I say so they won't kick me out
of combat duty, of the battalion?
I made a bad mistake.
I know what I did,
I don't deny it.
Do you remember what to do?
Attention.
I'm standing trial
before the battalion commander today.
Man, suppose he kicks me out.
What will you do?
I'll stand trial too.
Get out of here.
Or I'll sink into depression
and won't talk to anyone.
I won't say a single word.
It'll be a problem.
What will?
If one of us gets kicked out.
I'll tell him,
"Listen, I came here with a lot of problems
"but I'm learning how to calm down,
count to ten, relax."
I'm learning it, over time.
I'm learning to listen to my commanders
and to start giving a fuck, you know?
The discipline here teaches us a lesson
not just for the army,
but for life in general.
How about it, Moshe?
Think we've changed while we've been here?
For sure, man.
-Right?
Did you ever get up early before this?
I always got up at noon.
-See?
Once, no matter what anyone said
I always said no.
"Talk to me later."
"Let me think about it."
-I automatically said no. Then...
"I'll consider it later."
Now, I do first and think later.
First I do, then I listen.
-Right.
Nowadays, when they tell me to sit, I sit.
We're like dogs, man.
We've been well-trained.
I feel like a pit bull.
One who doesn't care at all
till someone steps on his tail.
But your tail's been clipped.
What can I tell the battalion commander
to keep from being kicked out
of combat duty, of the battalion?
I made a bad mistake.
I know what I did.
I don't deny it.
I believe...
I can make it right.
I'm trying to change, really.
I want to change.
I'm here to change.
I'm getting there.
I don't always get it right.
I have an anger problem.
And it's hard...
It's hard to change.
I'm working on it.
Fix your beret.
Remember what to do?
Attention.
Your feet in a V-position,
hands behind your back.
I walked into his room with a salute,
wearing my beret.
He told me what the charges against me were.
I pleaded guilty.
I said I was sorry,
that it shouldn't have happened.
What happened, Almog?
Eight days in jail.
Fine. We'll get to see what jail's like.
What did he say at the trial?
That he...
The first thing he said was,
"I appreciate your honesty."
Because I admitted what happened, and...
He said, "I also appreciate
that you asked for forgiveness.
"It's why I'm not giving you 20 days."
Okay.
-And he said he'll considering
whether I should stay a combat soldier.
When I get back from jail,
we'll talk again.
I had a feeling
he'd send you to jail.
Is that cool?
Not good?
-Not very impressive.
Fine.
I hope it'll make you understand.
I assume you already understand.
Yeah.
-I'm assuming that's the case. Hope I'm right.
I've gotten the wake-up call
I needed.
These eight days
are time for you to think.
I'll have a lot of time to think.
I hope you'll spend those eight days
thinking long and hard
about where you are
and how you should improve.
Because jail is...
a turning point,
in your service and in life in general.
Speaking from my point of view,
from my experience.
-Right.
Hello.
What's up?
Fine. What happened?
I had my trial with the battalion commander.
-And?
Eight days in jail.
What?
-Eight days in jail.
Why? What did you do?
Are you stupid?
What do you want from me?
That's what he said.
What did you do?
I told you what I did.
I told you yesterday.
Are you stupid?
Don't you care?
Tell me, don't you care?
-Alright, bye.
Are you bored?
-Bye.
Almog...
Well?
What did the commander say?
That he'll let me know
whether I get to stay here.
Wow. What a mess.
A serious mess.
We'll see what happens.
When you get back,
tell him you'll do anything to stay.
I'll cry if you're taken off combat duty, man.
Promise?
-Promise.
You're such an ass.
That's not a wake-up call, man.
It's a kick in the head.
A punch in the face.
-One hell of a punch.
That's all you've got now.
Alright, let's hit the showers.
-Don't wanna.
Come on!
-I don't want to shower.
Come on, we'll put on some music.
Somebody stop me now
Give me back my mind
Because everyone is still asleep but I
can't find a moment's peace...
I'm tired of getting kicked in the teeth
here in the army.
I think about tomorrow,
and it really stresses me out.
How can I go to jail now?
I'm getting out of here now.
I'm gonna disappear.
Almog.
Come here.
You've got your field uniform?
Yeah.
-You've packed your field uniform?
Will you change into it there?
You're not gonna be in service dress there.
No, my field uniform's ready.
Your commander will be here in a second.
You'll sign your leave forms,
and then a vehicle will come
and take you to be detained in Ovda.
I didn't have the guts to do it,
to throw it all away.
Jail? I can't imagine what it'll be like.
You don't know what'll happen,
what it will be like.
It's...
scary.
I don't want to go through that ever again.
Maybe that's what will make the difference.
Mistakes are how you learn.
Once you get punished for something,
it finally enters your head
and stays there.
I hope it'll start to change
the way I think.
I really want it to.
Alright, get in position.
I just need to shoot.
Cheek against the stock.
Now look through the sight,
towards your target.
I said, alright.
This is a goal I need to set for myself.
I need to do my best
and I need to protect my home.
I need to do the right thing.
I'm a combat soldier.