Zion and His Brother

Ilana is a divorced mother who raises her two sons with the support of her partner, Eli. They share a modest apartment and juggle finances, affection, and daily tensions. Their absent father provides little help, leaving the family to cope on their own.

Meir is a troubled, aggressive teenager who spends time with a group of violent friends. He resents Eli's attempts to help, including offering him a job at the car wash. The household atmosphere grows tenser as his behavior spirals.

Meir's girlfriend Michelle has a tense, contempt-filled relationship with him. She lives with her grandmother in the neighborhood, illustrating the turmoil that marks Meir's personal life. The dynamic adds to the household's volatile atmosphere.

Zion and Meir are inseparable, spending much of their time together. During a sea outing, Zion's sneakers are stolen, and they suspect an Ethiopian boy named Solomon. Zion seeks help from Meir, who confronts Solomon with brutal force.

Meir's confrontation with Solomon ends violently as Solomon flees in fear and is tragically struck by a speeding train. The incident exposes the lethal consequences of their violence and blurs the line between bravado and danger.

Solomon's father arrives at the school, desperately asking the students if they've seen his son. Zion remains silent, fearful after Meir pressures him to keep quiet. The moment heightens the sense of fear and the weight of coercion on the children.

Michelle decides to leave Meir, hoping to escape the toxic cycle. When Meir discovers her with Zion, his rage boils over and he threatens to kill her. The severing of this relationship deepens Meir's volatility and isolation.

Meir sabotages Eli's car, triggering a violent confrontation between them. Eli, hurt and frustrated, leaves the house but eventually returns after Zion pleads with him. The family fracture widens as trust deteriorates.

Ilana and Eli decide to send Zion to a boarding school to keep him safe while Eli finishes building their new apartment on Mount Carmel. Zion begins to pack his belongings as the plan takes shape. The decision marks a pivotal shift toward physical separation in an attempt to protect him.

Zion starts packing to depart, but Meir arrives and a heated argument erupts. The conflict hints at a deepening rift between the brothers and the potential violence that may follow their separation. The plan to move Zion becomes a flashpoint for family tension.

Meir chases Zion to the train tracks, and as a train approaches, he pins Zion down and begins choking him. In a haunting moment, Meir stops himself, haunted by memories of what happened to Solomon. The memory reveals the lasting impact of violence on both brothers and the family.