The Sea is the kind of film that speaks softly but hits deeply. It tells the story of a 12-year-old Palestinian boy from the West Bank who dreams of seeing the sea for the first time — a simple wish that becomes an act of quiet rebellion. When he’s denied a travel permit to join his classmates on a school trip to Tel Aviv, he decides to go alone. The journey that follows is filled with danger, tenderness, and a kind of beauty that comes from hope itself.
Directed by Shai Carmeli Pollak, an Israeli filmmaker known for his left-leaning and humanistic work, and produced by Baher Agbariya, a Palestinian voice long committed to meaningful cinema, the film bridges divides rather than deepens them. It’s not propaganda — it’s a deeply human story that believes in peace, empathy, and the right of every child to dream without fear.
At the Ophir Awards, Israel’s national film ceremony, The Sea made history. It won Best Feature Film, Best Screenplay, Best Actor for young Muhammad Gazawi, Best Supporting Actor for Khalifa Natour, and Best Original Score. The performances from Gazawi and Natour are unforgettable — the boy’s innocence and quiet determination mirror the father’s weary love and desperation. Together, they give the film its heart.
But its success didn’t come without controversy. Within hours of the win, Israel’s culture minister Miki Zohar denounced the film as “an embarrassment” and even threatened to withdraw funding from the national film awards. It was a reaction that only confirmed the film’s courage.
The night of the ceremony was emotionally charged. Many filmmakers wore shirts reading “a child is a child” and “end the war” in both Hebrew and Arabic. When Agbariya took the stage, he said the film was “born from love for humanity and cinema,” and dedicated the award to those who still believe peace is possible — not as an illusion, but as a choice.
Now selected as Israel’s official entry for the 2026 Oscars, The Sea stands as one of the year’s most vital films — a work of empathy in a time of division. It’s both a story and a statement: that art can still reach where politics cannot.