About "Our Boys" (HBO)

"Our Boys" is a Hebrew language television series released in 2019 jointly produced by HBO and Keshet International. The series is set in Israel in 2014, focusing on the real-life murder of a Palestinian teen as a result of escalating tension after the murder of three Jewish teens. The story closely follows the investigation led by the Shin Bet (Israel’s internal security service) into the shocking crime and its aftermath.

Making / Production

"Our Boys" is created by Hagai Levi, Joseph Cedar, and Tawfik Abu-Wael. Filmed in Israel, the show attempts to present a realistic description of the events as they unfolded in 2014 and the series stays true to its source materials and accurately portrays the political tensions.

Actors

• Shlomi Elkabetz as Simon: A seasoned detective who carries the burden of solving the hate crime for the Shin Bet. Elkabetz’s portrayal of Simon makes the character rich, complex, and compelling.
• Adam Gabay as Avishay Elbaz: Portrays a role of a conflicted religious yeshiva student, who is suspected of terrible crime. Gabay brings a haunting quality to Avishay, creating an unforgettable character.
• Ram Masarweh as Mohammed Abu Khdeir: Plays the role of the Palestinian boy who is kidnapped and brutally murdered. Masarweh’s performance is sensitive and powerful.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• The series is based on the actual events that led to the outbreak of war in Gaza.
• The series has both Hebrew and Arabic speaking characters depicting the multicultural aspect of Israel.

Quotes

• "Where people repent, there the Shekhinah rests."
• "God does not forget. He will revenge what happened."
• "You don't need to lie if you have nothing to hide."

Music, Soundtrack

• The original score for the series is composed by Jonathan Riklis.
• The series also features Arabic, Hebrew, and English tracks, fitting the multicultural location and context of the narrative.