Live and Become 2005
Radically gripping and emotionally raw, Radu Mihăileanu's Live and Become (2005) plunges into the breathtaking saga of a young boy whose life is upended by a desperate act of maternal love.
Director: Radu Mihăileanu
Cast
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Live and Become (2005) about?
Live and Become tells the harrowing true-inspired story of a Jewish mother in Ethiopia who saves her son from starvation by secretly exchanging him with a Christian boy, allowing him to escape on a covert flight to Israel. Raised as Schlomo, the child must navigate a new identity, culture, and faith while carrying the weight of his past in a world that sees him as an outsider.
Who directed Live and Become?
Live and Become was directed by Radu Mihăileanu, the acclaimed Romanian-French filmmaker known for his humanistic storytelling and visually rich dramas that blend political history with deeply personal narratives.
Who stars in Live and Become?
The film features Moshe Abebe, Yaël Abecassis, Roschdy Zem, Roni Hadar, and Sirak M. Sabahat in its core ensemble, each delivering performances that anchor the film's emotional and moral complexity.
Is Live and Become (2005) worth watching?
Absolutely—Live and Become stands as a remarkable dramatic achievement, praised for its emotional intensity and historical resonance despite its unrated status. It's a poignant exploration of identity and belonging that will resonate with fans of thought-provoking cinema and anyone moved by stories of resilience and transformation.
How long is Live and Become?
Live and Become runs for 140 minutes.
🎥 Trailer
Live and Become: A Boy's Journey to Israel in 2005 — Full Movie Info
Radically gripping and emotionally raw, Radu Mihăileanu's Live and Become (2005) plunges into the breathtaking saga of a young boy whose life is upended by a desperate act of maternal love. Set against the dusty highlands of Ethiopia in 1980, the film follows a desperate Jewish mother who swaps her dying baby with a Christian child so he can board the secret airlift to Israel. Renamed Schlomo, the boy begins a perilous journey across continents—from famine-stricken villages to a new homeland fraught with cultural and religious tension. What unfolds is a deeply moving meditation on identity, faith, and the lengths people travel to survive and belong.
Mihăileanu crafts a visually lush yet unflinching portrait of displacement, weaving together historical gravity with intimate human drama. With stellar performances from Moshe Abebe and Roschdy Zem, the film explores the painful birth of a nation while keeping its heart rooted in the universal search for belonging. The result is a masterpiece that lingers long after the credits roll—an unforgettable story of survival that asks what it truly means to be alive and free.