Live and Become

2005 2h 20m FR

👍

7.4

SOLID

★7.4TMDB · 206

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

In 1980, the black Falashas in Ethiopia are recognised as genuine Jews and are secretly carried to Israel. The day before the transport the son of a Jewish mother dies. In his place and with his name (Schlomo) she takes a Christian 9-year-old boy.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Where to watch · US

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Cast

Moshe Abebe
Schlomo (teenager)
Moshe Agazai
Schlomo (child)
Sirak M. Sabahat
Schlomo (adult)
Roni Hadar
Sara
Yaël Abecassis
Yaël
Roschdy Zem
Yoram Harrari
Yitzhak Edgar
Qès Amrah
Rami Danon
Papy

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Radu Mihăileanu
Writers: Alain-Michel Blanc, Radu Mihăileanu
Languages: Amharic, French, Hebrew
Countries: France, Israel, Belgium, Italy

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

MONEY

Did you know

Earned back only 65% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 21 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Amharic, French, Hebrew.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

International production across 4 countries: France, Israel, Belgium, Italy.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Radu Mihăileanu, shot by Rémy Chevrin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Armand Amar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Ludo Troch shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Moshe Abebe and Moshe Agazai and Sirak M. Sabahat carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Radu Mihăileanu directs. Rémy Chevrin behind the camera. Armand Amar scores. Ludo Troch cuts. A commercial under-performer on release. Produced in France, Israel, Belgium, Italy. Dialogue in Amharic, French, Hebrew.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Earned back only 65% of its budget on initial theatrical — a commercial disappointment on release.
2Released 21 years ago.
3Dialogue crosses 3 languages: Amharic, French, Hebrew.
4International production across 4 countries: France, Israel, Belgium, Italy.
5Directed by Radu Mihăileanu, shot by Rémy Chevrin. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
6Original score by Armand Amar. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
7Editor Ludo Troch shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
8Moshe Abebe and Moshe Agazai and Sirak M. Sabahat carry the top of the cast.
9IMDB entry: tt0388505 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
10Classified under 24 themes, including "underdog", "post-traumatic stress disorder (ptsd)", "paris, france", "love of one's life".
11Released under 13 different titles around the world.