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  • 2020
  • Film Movement
  • 1 h 54 m
  • 2020
  • Film Movement
  • 1 h 54 m

Summary Lea Tsemel defends Palestinians: from feminists to fundamentalists, from non-violent demonstrators to armed militants. As a Jewish-Israeli lawyer who has represented political prisoners for five decades, Tsemel, in her tireless quest for justice, pushes the praxis of a human rights defender to its limits. As far as most Israelis are conc...

Directed By: Philippe Bellaiche, Rachel Leah Jones

Written By: Rachel Leah Jones

  • 2020
  • Film Movement
  • 1 h 54 m
  • 2020
  • Film Movement
  • 1 h 54 m

Advocate

Metascore Generally Favorable Based on 6 Critic Reviews
77
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Summary Lea Tsemel defends Palestinians: from feminists to fundamentalists, from non-violent demonstrators to armed militants. As a Jewish-Israeli lawyer who has represented political prisoners for five decades, Tsemel, in her tireless quest for justice, pushes the praxis of a human rights defender to its limits. As far as most Israelis are conc...

Directed By: Philippe Bellaiche, Rachel Leah Jones

Written By: Rachel Leah Jones

Where to Watch

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Critic Reviews

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Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 6 Critic Reviews
77
100% Positive
6 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
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Critic Reviews

 View All
Metascore
Generally Favorable Based on 6 Critic Reviews
77
100% Positive
6 Reviews
0% Mixed
0 Reviews
0% Negative
0 Reviews

  • All Reviews
  • Positive Reviews
  • Mixed Reviews
  • Negative Reviews
80
Jan 2, 2020
The most gripping parts of Advocate are the film’s fly-on-the-wall cinéma vérité sequences of Tsemel at work, meeting with clients’ families, navigating the legal system and conferring about cases with fellow attorneys and her staff.
By Kenneth Turan FULL REVIEW
80
Jan 2, 2020
Tsemel’s hard demands on her family and co-workers alike are kept in view: “Advocate” isn’t a bland hagiography, but a textured nonfiction character study of complicated heroism. You can’t challenge the system, after all, without being a bit challenging yourself.
By Guy Lodge FULL REVIEW
80
Jan 2, 2020
At one point, Tsemel describes herself as a member of an occupying force and defines her mission in life as to somehow rectify the resultant power imbalance. The only way to get there, as the film's pointed final image suggests, is to keep on trudging.
By Keith Uhlich FULL REVIEW
80
Jan 2, 2020
The directorial choices, from the minimal use of music for dramatic embellishment to the innovative split-screen technique used to blur the identities of individuals in courthouse footage, are spot-on throughout.
By Nick Rocco Scalia FULL REVIEW
75
Jan 2, 2020
Advocate is a reminder to audiences everywhere of the importance of the rule of law, its equal application and appointing judges who understand that importance.
By Roger Moore FULL REVIEW
70
Jan 2, 2020
Provocative as the film is, it doesn’t fully reconcile Tsemel’s contradictions, if such a thing were even possible or desirable.
By Ben Kenigsberg FULL REVIEW

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Details

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Production Company BBC Storyville, CBC Radio Canada, Close Up Films, Filmoption International, Home Made Docs, IKONdocs, Norddeutscher Rundfunk (NDR), Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS), Slutzky Communication, Südwestrundfunk (SWR)
Release Date Jan 3, 2020
Duration 1 h 54 m
Genres
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Awards

Antenna Documentary Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Thessaloniki Documentary Film Festival
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations
Cinema Eye Honors Awards, US
• 2 Wins & 2 Nominations

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