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War Drama

CUP FINAL

גביע העולם

  • Sun, May 10
    JW3 Cinema
    May 10, 2026, 5:30 PM
    JW3 Cinema, London
    Part of the Eran Riklis retrospective and a tribute to the late Muhammad Bakri, Cup Final is a lyrical, emotionally charged anti-war classic about an Israeli soldier and his Palestinian captors who forge an unlikely bond through their shared passion for football during the 1982 Lebanon conflict.

About the film

Cup Final (Gmar Gavi’a) is a powerful, genre-bending war drama from early in Eran Riklis’s celebrated career, blending suspense, character study and humanity in an unforgettable story set during Israel’s 1982 invasion of Lebanon. The film follows Cohen, a young Israeli soldier taken hostage by a small group of Palestinian fighters as the conflict unfolds. 
Amid the rubble and tension of war, an extraordinary and surprising connection emerges: both Cohen and his captors share an ardent love for football — especially their support for the Italian team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup — and this common passion gradually breaks down the barriers of nationalism and enmity. 
Featuring a standout performance by Muhammad Bakri as the Palestinian commander Ziad, this heartfelt tribute celebrates Bakri’s legacy and Riklis’s gift for portraying the fragile, often ironic humanity that can arise even in the most brutal of conflicts. 

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CAST AND CREW

year‭: ‬1991‭ ‬duration‭:‬‭ ‬110‭ ‬MIN‭ ‬language‭: ‬ENGLISH‭,‬

HEBREW, ‬ARABIC ‬WITH ENGLISH SUBTITLES‭ ‬director‭:‬‭ ‬ERAN RIKLIS‭ ‬writers‭:‬‭ ‬EYAL HALFON BASED ON A STORY BY RIKLIS‭ ‬prodocers‭:‬‭ ‬MICHAEL SHARFSHTEIN‭, ‬ERAN RIKLIS‭ ‬cast‭: ‬MOSHE IVGY‭, ‬MOHAMMED BAKRI‭, ‬SALIM DAW‭, ‬BASSAM ZOAMUT‭, ‬YUSSEF ABU WARDE‭ ‬

MEET THE director

Eran Riklis is one of Israel’s most dynamic and internationally celebrated directors, known for emotionally powerful films like Lemon Tree and The Syrian Bride. His latest work, Reading Lolita in Tehran, adapts Azar Nafisi’s bestselling memoir into a bold, festival‑acclaimed drama about courage, literature, and women’s resilience under oppression, bringing his signature blend of heart and social insight to global audiences.

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 SPONsORS & Supporters 

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