Walk on Water
An unusual psychological spy thriller,Walk on Waterfollows Israeli agent Eyal (Lior Ashkenazi, from the superb romanceLate Marriage) as he tries to learn from a German brother and sister (Knut Berger,Push and Pull, and Caroline Peters,Schone Frauen) whether or not their grandfather, a Nazi commander, is still alive--but his growing friendship with the pair forces him to grapple with his wife's suicide only months before.Walk on Watergrapples with racial prejudice and homophobia without once seeming preachy; surprisingly, the spy storyline introduces these issues naturally, as Eyal's hostility towards Arabs and his blithe view of Nazi war criminals are central to his character. Ashkenazi is charismatic and subtle; his bedroom eyes and understated smolder make him something of an Israeli Clive Owen. Don't buyWalk on Waterexpecting James Bond spectacle, but the excellent performances, intelligent script, and quiet tension will draw you into this thoughtful and emotionally nuanced movie. In English, with a few subtitled scenes in Hebrew and German.--Bret Fetzer