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A Borrowed Identity (2015) movie poster

Plot Summary

A Borrowed Identity (2015) Plot Summary Explained

Release, runtime and language
2015 · 104 min · Arabic
Directed by
Eran Riklis

Eyad, a Palestinian Israeli boy, attends a prestigious Jewish boarding school in Jerusalem and struggles with his cultural identity. He develops close friendships with Jonathan, a boy living with muscular dystrophy, and his mother, Edna. As Eyad falls for Naomi, he faces difficult choices regarding acceptance and must decide whether to embrace his true identity or conform to the expectations of those around him, confronting the complexities of belonging in a divided society.

On this page (6)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 What happens: full plot
  3. 3 Plot questions answered
  4. 4 Movie threads
  5. 5 Movies like A Borrowed Identity
  6. 6 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch A Borrowed Identity (2015)

Where can you watch A Borrowed Identity? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Chai Flicks, Hoopla and Amazon Video: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

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Full plot summary · contains spoilers

What Happens in A Borrowed Identity: Full Plot Summary

The whole story of A Borrowed Identity (2015) explained, from the opening scene to the final frame: every key event, every twist and what it all adds up to. Read it as a quick recap before the sequel, to check a scene you missed, or to finally understand what really happened.

Eyad, portrayed by Tawfeek Barhom, is a talented Palestinian teenager granted acceptance into a prestigious Israeli school. As his father, Ali Suliman, drives him to Jerusalem, he offers a heartfelt message, reminding Eyad that while the Palestinian people once yearned for victory over their Jewish adversaries, their current aim is to coexist with dignity.

Upon entering this new academic environment, Eyad faces significant challenges in adapting. His Israeli classmates derogatorily refer to him as "Ayid," and many look down on him. However, everything shifts when he meets Naomi, played by Danielle Kitsis. Their bond begins when Eyad assists her with her chemistry studies, leading to frequent meetings at a local café.

In a parallel storyline, Eyad is paired with Yonatan, portrayed by Michael Moshonov, a disabled Israeli teen. Both feeling alienated in their own ways, Eyad and Yonatan form a deep friendship. As Eyad's relationship with Naomi blossoms, the complexity of their romance grows. Despite the antagonism from some peers, Eyad excels academically, gaining the respect of fellow students. He even ventures into entrepreneurship, selling falafel and bagels, finally finding his footing within the school.

However, tensions arise during a fateful outing when an Israeli soldier overhears Eyad declaring his love for Naomi in Arabic. The incident escalates as the soldier aggressively demands to see Eyad’s identification. In English class, Eyad and Naomi wish to share their love with the world, but Naomi's revelation about her relationship with a Palestinian boy leads her parents to prohibit her from attending school. In a bold move, Eyad drops out himself and requests the principal to inform Naomi's family of his decision, allowing her to return.

This choice infuriates Eyad’s father, resulting in Eyad being unwelcome at home. He relocates to a flat in East Jerusalem and begins the search for employment, ultimately securing a job as a dishwasher after numerous rejections.

As Eyad navigates these tumultuous changes, Yonatan's health takes a turn for the worse, leaving him unable to move. Trusting Eyad, Yonatan’s mother, portrayed by Yael Abecassis, invites him to live with them, recognizing Eyad's capability to assist her in caring for Yonatan.

In a twist of fate, Eyad realizes the parallels between his and Yonatan’s lives. He takes Yonatan's Israeli ID and begins working as a waiter. Though Yonatan's mother soon discovers this deception, she permits him to continue under the condition that his identity remains a secret. Using Yonatan's ID, Eyad takes and excels in Yonatan’s final exams, scoring exceptionally well for both of their futures.

As time passes, Naomi enlists in the IDF and confides in Eyad about her growing frustration with the dishonesty surrounding their relationship. Eventually, she decides to end things between them. Tragedy strikes when Yonatan passes away, prompting Eyad to inform the Muslim authorities of his death while posing as Yonatan. Together with Yonatan's mother, they attend the funeral, and the story concludes with a poignant blank screen, symbolizing their shared sorrow and loss.

Last updated: November 15, 2024 at 18:06

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Plot questions answered

A Borrowed Identity Plot Explained: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask most about A Borrowed Identity (2015): what happens in the confusing scenes, why the characters do what they do, the twists, hidden details and what the ending means. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Why does Eyad drop out of school?

Eyad drops out of school after Naomi's parents forbid her from attending when they discover she's dating a Palestinian boy. Eyad decides to sacrifice his own education by leaving the school and asks the principal to inform Naomi's family of his decision, hoping this will allow Naomi to return to school. This selfless act demonstrates his love for her, though it leads to his father disowning him.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Eyad's friendship with Naomi had already caused tension with some Israeli peers, hinting at the societal obstacles they'd face.

  • eyad
  • school
  • naomi
  • sacrifice
  • drop out
Q2

Why does Eyad take Yonatan's ID to work as a waiter?

After being rejected from numerous jobs in East Jerusalem due to his Palestinian identity, Eyad takes Yonatan's Israeli ID to secure employment as a waiter at a restaurant. He is desperate to find work after dropping out of school and being cut off by his father, and using the ID is his only means of overcoming the employment discrimination he faces.

Foreshadowing: The earlier encounter with the Israeli soldier who demanded Eyad's identification after hearing him speak Arabic foreshadows how his Palestinian identity creates obstacles.

  • eyad
  • yonatan
  • id
  • identity
  • waiter
  • job
Q3

Why does Yonatan's mother allow Eyad to use her son's identity?

After discovering Eyad working under Yonatan's identity, Yonatan's mother permits him to continue because she recognizes his capability and genuine care for her son. With Yonatan's health deteriorating and unable to move, she needs help and sees Eyad as trustworthy. She also likely understands the systemic barriers Eyad faces as a Palestinian seeking employment.

Foreshadowing: Yonatan's mother initially invited Eyad to live with them precisely because she saw his ability to care for her son, establishing trust between them.

  • eyad
  • yonatan
  • mother
  • identity
  • deception
  • trust
Q4

Why does Eyad's father reject him after he drops out?

Eyad's father is furious and disowns him because dropping out represents a betrayal of the family's sacrifices. Eyad was given a rare opportunity to attend a prestigious Israeli school, and his father had emphasized the importance of education and dignity. By abandoning this chance for a relationship, Eyad appears to have thrown away everything his family worked for.

Foreshadowing: Earlier, Eyad's father drives him to Jerusalem with a message about coexistence and dignity, showing how important the educational opportunity is to the family.

  • eyad
  • father
  • rejection
  • family
  • disappointment
Q5

What happens to Eyad and Naomi's relationship?

Eyad and Naomi's relationship deteriorates despite their deep feelings for each other. After Eyad drops out to help Naomi return to school, she eventually enlists in the IDF and grows frustrated with the dishonesty surrounding their relationship. She ultimately decides to end things with Eyad, unable to reconcile their different worlds and the complications of their identity differences.

Foreshadowing: The tense confrontation with the Israeli soldier who heard Eyad declare his love in Arabic foreshadows the societal obstacles that would ultimately divide them.

  • eyad
  • naomi
  • relationship
  • breakup
  • idf
Q6

Why does Naomi join the Israeli Defense Forces?

Naomi enlists in the IDF, which represents a significant turning point in her life and further widens the gap between her and Eyad. Her decision reflects the societal pressures and expectations placed on Israeli citizens, and it ultimately contributes to her decision to end her relationship with Eyad, as the military service creates additional complications and conflicts of loyalty.

Foreshadowing: The earlier revelation of their relationship to Naomi's parents, which led to her being banned from school, demonstrates how their relationship constantly collides with societal expectations.

  • naomi
  • idf
  • military
  • relationship
  • pressure
Q7

Why does Eyad report Yonatan's death to the Muslim authorities?

Eyad reports Yonatan's death to the Muslim authorities while posing as Yonatan, which highlights the complexity of his identity situation. Since he has been living under Yonatan's Israeli identity, he maintains this deception even in death. He attends the funeral with Yonatan's mother, sharing their mutual grief, and the act underscores how deeply intertwined their lives had become.

Foreshadowing: The entire identity deception subplot, where Eyad used Yonatan's ID for employment and exams, builds toward this final moment where he must navigate death under his borrowed identity.

  • eyad
  • yonatan
  • death
  • muslim
  • authorities
  • identity
Q8

What is the significance of the movie's ending?

The movie ends with a blank screen following Yonatan's funeral, symbolizing the profound shared sorrow between Eyad and Yonatan's mother. After everything Eyad has navigated, his identity struggles, the loss of his relationship with Naomi, and the death of his closest friend, the silence represents the weight of his loss and the uncertain future ahead. It underscores the emotional toll of living between two worlds while losing those who bridged them.

Foreshadowing: The film has consistently used quiet, tender moments to convey emotion, making the somber ending a natural continuation of the film's emotional tone.

  • ending
  • funeral
  • sorrow
  • symbolism
  • blank screen

Movie threads

More Movies Like A Borrowed Identity, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes A Borrowed Identity tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about divided societies and identity like A Borrowed Identity

Stories of young love and friendship strained by cultural and political tensions. If you liked A Borrowed Identity, explore these movies about cultural identity and coming of age in divided societies. These films share a bittersweet tone, heavy emotional weight, and explore themes of belonging, intercultural romance, and navigating complex social landscapes.

  • melancholic
  • thoughtful
  • heartfelt
  • conflicted
  • poignant
  • romantic
  • Tone: bittersweet, poignant
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: Narratives in this thread typically follow a young person forming deep, meaningful connections with individuals from a different cultural or social group. A central, often forbidden, romance or friendship becomes the emotional core, which is tested and shaped by external societal pressures and prejudices, leading to a journey of self-discovery.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a specific emotional and thematic blend: a heartfelt, melancholic mood, a steady character-driven pace, and a focus on the heavy emotional weight of choosing between personal desire and societal expectation. They balance tender human connections with a sobering look at social realities.

Movies about transformative friendships like in A Borrowed Identity

Profound connections formed in the shadow of mortality that redefine lives. Find movies like A Borrowed Identity that focus on profound, life-changing friendships formed in the face of terminal illness. These heartfelt dramas are emotionally heavy and bittersweet, celebrating human connection and the impact one life can have on another.

  • heartfelt
  • emotional
  • poignant
  • melancholic
  • thoughtful
  • life-affirming
  • Tone: heartfelt, bittersweet
  • Pacing: steady, introspective
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative pattern involves a central, deeply caring relationship between two characters, often an outsider and someone living with a serious health condition. The friendship becomes a catalyst for significant personal change, forcing characters to confront their own lives and values, with the illness providing a constant, poignant backdrop that intensifies the emotional stakes.

Why they belong together: These films share a specific emotional core: they are deeply heartfelt and poignant, balancing the sadness of loss with the beauty of human connection. The mood is consistently melancholic yet thoughtful, with a steady pacing that allows the relationship to develop authentically, leading to a powerful and bittersweet emotional payoff.

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Movies Like A Borrowed Identity

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Every angle

A Borrowed Identity (2015) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

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