Watch Forever Pure

Forever Pure is a 2016 documentary movie directed by Maya Zinshtein. The film revolves around the story of the tumultuous season of Beitar Jerusalem, one of Israel's most popular and right-wing soccer teams, during which it was bought by the Russian-Israeli oligarch Arcadi Gaydamak. The documentary starts off by introducing the team, and then showcasing the excitement of the club's fan base. Through their fervor and dedication, they exhibit what the team means to them, from their symbols to their culture. The movie then takes a sharp turn, with the hiring of Muslim players, Gabriel Kadiev and Zaur Sadayev, that sparks a general negative response from the fan base.

In the aftermath of the hiring, the fan base demonstrated against the idea, and the club finds itself in the middle of a storm of protests and demonstrations. The protestors chant racist slogans, swearing animosity towards the players in question, as well as other non-Jewish groups. The hate message was displayed for all to see, not just at the game but on social media, and in one instance, the fan base even stages a walk-out.

This tumultuous time is captured on camera by Zinshtein, with the footage revealing a lot about the way people respond to change. The film crew follows the fan base, the players and everyone else involved all around Jerusalem as people gather to express their support or dissatisfaction with the changes in the club.

In addition to the protests from the fan base, the film gets personal by showcasing the players' families, the hardship that they went through, questioning their own involvement in the sport, and how they personally felt about the abrupt fan backlash. Kadiev's family felt the hate messages from the fan base directly in the form of phone calls, comments, and even death threats aimed at Zaur just because he was a Muslim playing for a team that they felt should be exclusively Jewish.

The players' dilemma wasn't only from the fan base; the players could neither be soothsayers nor turn a blind eye to the matter. The film reveals how tough it must be to occupy the space of a scapegoat on both the club and the fan base's side, all while trying to excel in an environment that isn't explicitly welcoming.

The film takes an interesting angle by touching on the concept of race and identity in Israeli society. How the fan base sees their team and how they see race and identity within the team. Forever Pure is an important piece of work, showcasing how race plays a big part in Israeli identity in a space where soccer is thought to be used to bring people together, but instead, might just widen the gap between different cultures and identities.

Through a careful lens, the documentary captures the tumultuous season, which started being about soccer but quickly developed into a commentary on the core values of a nation's identity. It showcases the team as more than just players but characters of a story far more complicated than even they could've predicted. The club's management is also caught in the crossfire, trying to balance the tradition and what the fan base wants versus what seems right or what is decent.

The documentary takes an unbiased and neutral approach, letting each side of the argument speak for itself, giving us a glimpse into the complexities of soccer, society, and identity. The documentary also notes that some in the fan base did stand up to the racism and bigotry, either out of necessity or genuine concern.

Forever Pure isn't just limited to Beitar Jerusalem, but extends beyond soccer, showcasing a society at a crossroads, trying to find its identity, and dealing with the consequence of change. It presents a defining moment in time, capturing how these events were all about who the nation is, and who gets to be part of it.

I highly recommend Forever Pure for its approach to a complex and nuanced social issue, and how the filmmakers navigated it with care and thoughtfulness.

Forever Pure is a 2016 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.4.