Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story is a 2012 American documentary film written by Jonathan Gruber, who co-directed the film with Ari Daniel Pinchot. The film documents the life and death of IDF officer Yonatan “Yoni” Netanyahu, a member of Sayeret Matkal and the elder brother of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.[1] The film uses Yoni's writings, interviews, and archival footage to detail Yoni's personal life and achievements, culminating in his sacrifice during Operation Entebbe.[2] Yoni's writings are read by New Zealand actor Marton Csokas.[3]
| Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story | |
|---|---|
 Film Poster | |
| Directed by | Jonathan Gruber Ari Daniel Pinchot |
| Written by | Jonathan Gruber |
| Produced by | Jonathan Gruber Ari Daniel Pinchot Stuart Avi Savitsky |
| Cinematography | David J. Goulding |
| Edited by | David Grossbach Laura Rose |
| Music by | Charlie Barnett |
Production company | Crystal City Entertainment |
| Distributed by | International Film Circuit |
Release dates |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
Interviewees
edit- Yiftach R. Atir - a member of Yoni's unit; author of The English Teacher, which inspired the 2019 film The Operative
- Shay Avital - a member of Yoni's unit; later Commander of Sayeret Matkal and head of the Depth Corps
- Omer Bar-Lev - a member of Yoni's unit; former Israeli Minister of Public Security
- Ehud Barak - a member of Yoni's unit; 10th Prime Minister of Israel
- Nava Barak - first wife of Ehud Barak and friend of Bruria Shaked-Okon
- Elisha Barmeir - Israeli radiologist and childhood friend of Yoni
- Avigdor Ben-Gal - former IDF General
- Tirza Goodman - Yoni's wife and mother of their miscarried daughter
- Amos Goren - a member of Yoni's unit
- Dani Litani - childhood friend of Yoni
- Avi Weiss Livne - a member of Yon's unit
- Chani Maayan - childhood friend of Yoni
- Benzion Netanyahu - father of Yoni Netanyahu, as well as Benjamin and Iddo; an Israeli encyclopedist, historian, and medievalist
- Benjamin Netanyahu - Yoni's younger brother and 9th Prime Minister of Israel
- Daphne Netanyahu - Yoni's sister-in-law and wife of Iddo Netanyahu
- Iddo Netanyahu - younger brother of Yoni and Benjamin and husband of Daphna Netanyahu; a physician, author, and playwright
- Shimon Peres - former Israeli Minister of Defense; the 8th Prime Minister and 9th President of Israel
- Shlomi Reisman - a member of Yoni's unit; a retired Lt. Col in the IDF
- Gideon Remez - a member of Paratroopers Battalion 890; an Israeli analyst and journalist
- Bruria Shaked-Okon - Yoni's girlfriend of two years at the time of his death
- Dani Vesely - a friend of Yoni and Bruria
- Matan Vilnai - former Commander of paratroopers (and later a Major General) for the IDF
- Giora Zorea - the commander of Yoni's unit during the Yom Kippur War
Production
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Release
editThe film had a limited release on May 18, 2012, followed by a wider release on October 4, 2012.[4] On Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a score of 50%, based on reviews from 14 critics.[5]
References
edit- ^ Linden, Sheri. "Review: 'Follow Me' honors the late Yoni Netanyahu". The Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Anderson, John. "Follow Me: The Yoni Netanyahu Story". Variety. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Derakhshani, Tirdad. "An Israeli hero, sanctified". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ Genzlinger, Neil. "The Life and Death of an Israeli Hero". The New York Times. Retrieved 16 October 2023.
- ^ "FOLLOW ME: THE YONI NETANYAHU STORY". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved 16 October 2023.