Atlanta Jewish Film Festival – Exodus 91

In this genre-bending docufiction, an Israeli diplomat navigates the treachery of politics, bureaucracy and racism to rescue Ethiopian Jews from a brutal civil war. Operation Solomon is recounted through the eyes of the lead negotiator of the May 1991 airlift of 15,000 refugees to Israel. A North African Jew himself, Asher Naim and his colleagues confront endless obstacles, casting doubt on Israel’s true commitment to the perilous covert mission. As rebel forces close in on Ethiopia’s capital, Naim’s own beliefs and limits are put to the test. Archival footage, dramatic reenactments, and a blend of real and staged interviews, bring into relief the interplay of fact and fiction in storytelling and diplomacy, as well as in national and cultural identity.