Thiruvananthapuram: Eminent Israeli director Eran Riklis's 'Dancing Arabs', a movie which portrays the pangs of an Arab teenager who tries hard to find his identity in Israel, will be the inaugural movie of the 19th edition of the International Film Festival of Kerala, to be held here from December 12-19.
The 105-minute movie, set against the backdrop of the socio-political developments of Israel during 1980-90, is based on Sayed Kashua's novel of the same name.
Kerala Chalachitra Academy, the organiser of the week-long movie gala, said Tawfeek Barhom, who essayed Eyad, the protagonist in the movie, will participate in the inaugural ceremony.
The film unfolds through the life of Eyad, a smart village boy hailing from a moderate Arab family who gets admission in a Jewish boarding school in Jerusalem.
It is also an evaluation of the social and political background of Israel, Academy officials said. 'Dancing Arabs' was the inaugural movie in the Jerusalem Film Festival also.
It will be screened at the Nishagandhi Open Auditorium here on December 12.