Off White Lies

This gentle drama-comedy boasts a couple of nice performances in its story of homeless Israeli father and ne'er-do-well Shaul (Gur Bentvich) and his estranged, 12-year-old American daughter, Libby (Elya Inbar), who has come to live with him. With literally nowhere to turn for shelter, Shaul cons his way into the home of a Jerusalem family by pretending that he and Libby are refugees from the Second Lebanon War. The ruse initially works, but tensions quietly mount as Libby tires of Shaul's deceptions and she wants to return to the U.S. Meanwhile, Shaul ingratiates himself with his hosts, but risks his cover because of sexual interest in the lady of the house (Salit Achimiriam). Co-writer and director Maya Kenig takes a laidback approach, eschewing emotional fireworks while allowing Shaul's house of cards to collapse under its own weight as Libby resists and rebels until finally finding a way to make her father act like a grownup. Bentvich and Inbar shine as the leads in this genial film. Recommended. (T. Keogh)