Close to Home (2007) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

The movie is set in Jerusalem, specifically in the Nahalat Shiva neighborhood. This bustling area serves as the backdrop for the Border Police unit's patrols, providing a setting that contrasts the everyday urban life with the tension of military service.

• jerusalem
• nahalat shiva
• setting
• location
• border police

Nahalat Shiva is a neighborhood in Jerusalem known for its blend of historical significance and modern urban life. In the film, it becomes a location where the characters experience moments of tension and danger during their patrols, highlighting the challenges faced by the Border Police in a culturally rich but politically charged environment.

• nahalat shiva
• jerusalem neighborhood
• setting

The movie takes place in contemporary times, set within the context of modern military service in Israel. This modern setting allows the story to explore current issues of identity, duty, and personal connection amid the pressures of security work.

• time period
• contemporary
• modern
• israeli military
• idf

The film explores three major themes: friendship between the two soldiers Mirit and Smadar, the conflict between duty and personal ethics in military service, and the sense of isolation felt by the characters as they navigate their challenging circumstances. These themes intersect to create a story about connection amidst hardship.

• themes
• friendship
• duty
• morality
• isolation
• meaning

The friendship theme centers on the developing bond between Mirit and Smadar, who come from different backgrounds and have contrasting personalities. Despite their initial differences, they find common ground through shared challenges, and their connection helps them cope with the difficulties of military service and an often hostile environment.

• friendship
• mirit
• smadar
• bond
• connection

The film explores the tension between military duty and personal ethics through Mirit's character. She struggles to reconcile her responsibilities in the Border Police with her moral beliefs, especially within a dysfunctional unit where she must navigate peer pressure while questioning the missions they are assigned.

• duty
• morality
• ethics
• military
• mirit
• conflict

Isolation manifests in Mirit's experience feeling disconnected both from her mission and from her unit members. The pressures of their security tasks create a collective sense of alienation, emphasizing the emotional toll that military roles have on young soldiers serving in challenging environments.

• isolation
• alienation
• emotional toll
• soldiers
• connection

The two main characters are Mirit and Smadar, two young soldiers serving in the IDF's Border Police unit. Their relationship forms the emotional core of the film as they transform from strangers with initial distrust into a meaningful friendship.

• mirit
• smadar
• main characters
• soldiers
• idf

Mirit, played by Naama Schendar, is a serious and melancholic young woman serving in the IDF. She seeks a meaningful role in the military but finds her job unfulfilling. Throughout the film, she struggles against peer pressure and develops a growing friendship with Smadar as she searches for purpose.

• mirit
• naama schendar
• character
• soldier
• idf

Smadar, played by Smadar Sayar, is Mirit's boisterous patrol partner who contrasts sharply with Mirit's reserved personality. She is adventurous and pushes Mirit out of her comfort zone, playing a crucial role in helping Mirit find her voice and assert herself within the unit.

• smadar
• smadar sayar
• character
• patrol partner
• adventurous

Mirit and Smadar start as patrol partners who distrust each other, but their relationship evolves throughout the film. Their contrasting personalities, one reserved and serious, the other boisterous and adventurous, complement each other, and their developing friendship becomes a source of strength as they navigate the challenges of military service together.

• relationship
• partnership
• friendship
• mirit
• smadar
• evolution

The film has a predominantly tense tone, established by the constant underlying threat of violence in their environment. However, this tension coexists with a thread of hopefulness, particularly as the friendship between Mirit and Smadar develops, providing an uplifting counterpoint to the harsh setting.

• tone
• mood
• tense
• hopeful
• emotional
• atmosphere