We may have to wait years for Hollywood to bring Israel’s astonishing pager attack on Hezbollah to the big screen.
It would make for one helluva film, but the industry’s current anti-Israel bias wouldn’t let it happen.
Good thing we have “Paging Hezbollah,” a fascinating, behind-the-scenes account of one of the most remarkable wartime achievements in modern history.
Or ever.
Director Justin Folk (“No Safe Spaces,” “Am I Racist?“) does more than recount all the ways the mission could have failed. Folk’s documentary offers key context, including Hezbollah’s ties to Iran, Hamas and the radical Islamist threat to the western world.
First, a history lesson.
“Paging Hezbollah” digs deep into Israel’s fight for survival, recounting efforts by neighboring countries to wipe the tiny nation off the map.
Hamas. Iran. Hezbollah. It’s vital background to process the larger pager plan. The film also revisits the Oct. 7 terror attacks, replaying grisly footage captured by Hamas thugs peppered with firsthand accounts of the savagery.
Once again, it’s vital to connect the region’s tyrannical dots. The film depicts a battered Israel, forced to choose between counter-attacking Hamas after Oct. 7 or prepping for similar attacks by Hezbollah at its northern border.
The pager plot emerges from that frantic frame of mind. But how could it be pulled off?
Can a tiny explosive fit in such a small device? How potent should the mini-bombs prove? Can they keep the ambitious plan a secret?
Most importantly? Can Israel convince their sworn enemies to use pagers designed by their sharpest minds?
NEW: Hezbollah walkie-talkies blow up across Lebanon one day after Israel detonated hundreds of pagers 👀
https://t.co/Jqr0o6ke6A— Not the Bee (@Not_the_Bee) September 18, 2024
If anything, we leave “Paging Hezbollah” wanting more. How did Israel create those “straw companies” that sold the infamous pagers? What went into the creation of those tiny explosive devices that made all the difference?
What about the debate over the explosives’ blast radius? We see a snippet of that conversation, but it begs for more voices.
Part of this may be beyond the production’s grasp for security reasons. As is, we learn quite a bit about the operation, including fascinating details from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He speaks at great length about the pager mission and larger attempts to protect his people.
Folk makes extensive use of dramatic recreations, a common technique in documentary filmmaking. A few sequences feel tonally off, including some snarky scenes of Hezbollah terrorists flashing their hip new pagers.
Otherwise, “Paging Hezbollah” has the snazzy visuals often relegated to documentaries with much deeper pockets. Folk’s signature approach, apart from tackling stories few would go near, is leveraging modest budgets for maximum appeal.
He’s done it again with “Paging Hezbollah.” The film is a necessary counter-balance to projects like “NAZA,” which depict a one-dimensional Israel hell bent on destruction, not survival.
It’s also a mesmerizing tale that needs to be told. And the culture couldn’t wait for Hollywood to do the job.
HiT or Miss: 3.5 out of 5 stars
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 93 minutes
Where to Watch: In theaters Oct. 30
Family Friendly? PG:13 (Mature themes, some graphic sequences, historical violence)