The Little Traitor (2007)

For all the hype it got I was expecting a lot more!

In truth, there is barely enough story here to make a film.

Fun premise, good actors, bad writing. This film seemed to have potential at the beginning but it quickly devolves into a trite action film. Ultimately it's very boring.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

The original Title "Panther in the Basement" was a better title - IMHO. The big issue, is the FACT that there has NEVER been a Country named Palestine. This term was once used by a Roman General, a derogatory description of the people circa 200 BC. Around 1947, an Arab used the term Palestinian at the U.N. to describe the people that where living in tents in the South of Israel.There has NEVER been a single map, before 1948, that has ever displayed a single place with that name and to this day, the only maps that do NOT name the Country as Israel are found in the Middle east. In conclusion, this story has become a propaganda piece, trying once again to replace the actual name of the Country.

--- I am not going to write much here because I think you have to watch this movie rather than read about it. It was made in an excellent manner and had first rate actors with high kudos going to Ido Port as Proffy and Alfred Molina as Dunlop. --- Very essentially put this is a story about an 11 year old boy who carries on a friendship with a British "occupation" soldier in Israel just before it became Israel. The boy learns the hard way that sometimes your enemy can treat you better than your supposed friends and that although innocent friendship can and should be something one can treasure for life, it can also be called treason by the ignorant. I won't tell more for fear of telling to much.--- The story is told in a very sweet way and is a well made coming of age movie. I don't think many people would be disappointed with the time investment to watch this one.

So many historical movies are just overbearing and a slog to get through. The Little Traitor really gives you just enough historical background for the events to serve as a backdrop for the primary story - an unlikely friendship between an Israeli boy growing up in Palestine and an English soldier trying to keep the peace.Alfred Molina (Spider-Man 2, Chocolate, Prince of Persia) stars as Sergeant Dunlop, a kindhearted man who doesn't really fit in among his fellow soldiers and longs for home and the girlfriend he left behind. He encounters a precocious young boy named Proffy (Ido Port), who fancies himself a crusader for Israeli independence. He sees that Proffy, who has never connected with his father, needs a male influence and befriends him.The friendship proves tricky for them both, as Dunlop's fellow soldiers are weary of the boy, and Proffy's friends end up seeing him as a traitor for befriending Dunlop. Dunlop and Proffy each grows through the adversity they face and end up stronger for it. Molina is really fabulous in this classy, warm coming of age tale. Some might see it as a niche film for Jewish audiences only, but it tells an extremely universal story that I think would play well with anyone.

Really glad to see this movie is coming out. Saw it at a film festival where it got a standing ovation. Went with my daughter(age 14) and husband (age 68) and me (age 50) and all three of us just loved it. It deals with an interesting time of history, the British Mandate in Palestine and offers an even handed view. Performances are all around good. The little boy is exceptional and Alfred Molina is one of our favorites. The movie isn't sappy but it's hopeful, good hearted and VERY entertaining. You leave the theater feeling good. Would recommend to all my friends and wouldn't be surprised if this film picked up some real momentum.