The Vanishing Soldier:

“One night I was standing alone at a guard post in a military camp in the Judean Desert. I was 18 years old and had been through months of violence, training and the scorching sun. On the spur of the moment, I decided to climb down from the observation tower, climb over the camp fence and run in the direction I thought was the main road. In time, the wind blowing in my face slowed my run to a walk. Unable to locate the road, the only lights piercing the dark night were those emanating from the base behind me. After a long and anxious hour, I retraced my steps and stealthily returned to the base without my failed escape attempt being discovered.

I want to get to the bottom of the essence of that event, that night when I rebelled but did not go to extremes. I have tried to decipher why I did not act and why even today, in the midst of the violent reality outside and knowing what my country has done, I remain here and essentially continue to collaborate.

Shlomi, the protagonist of “The Disappeared Soldier”, is an 18-year-old soldier who flees the battlefield and wants to return home. During his journey, Shlomi tirelessly crosses a blurred line that stretches from his escape from the Gaza Strip to Tel Aviv, where the boundaries between a war zone and urban space dissolve. He never stops moving. Perhaps for the first time in his life, Shlomi struggles to find his independent identity, only to realize that the harder he tries, the deeper he sinks into quicksand, until his identity is finally taken over by circumstances.

Shlomi shirks his duties, which would have placed him in a cruel and unjust system of oppression and control of the Palestinians. He flees the Gaza Strip and heads to Tel Aviv, a place that seems to symbolize normality, only an hour and a half away from Gaza and yet light years away from it. However, this appearance of normality is broken by walls, fences and complicated systems that intercept the rockets fired from Gaza in small clouds in the sky. Shlomi realizes that he is caught in a constant state of limbo, shuttling back and forth between Gaza and Tel Aviv. He cannot escape the prevailing chaos and violence. It is the tension between passion and law that oscillates between movement and standstill.

Shlomi, a naive dreamer shaped by the legends of Jewish fairy tales, is desperately searching for anchors. He longs for a narrative that can give meaning to his escape, for stories that he can hold on to. But one by one they crumble, from the desolation of his parents’ empty house to the fleeting hope of romance.

Against his will, Shlomi goes from deserter to prisoner, from someone who wanted to distance himself from the war and redefine his identity, to an individual whose autonomous existence is consumed by the image of the “captured soldier”.The erosion of Shlomi’s personal identity reflects a broader loss of identity that is intertwined with the development of my country.”

Ido Tako, born on November 4, 2001 in Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Israel, is an up-and-coming Israeli actor. Despite his young age, he has already delivered impressive performances that are attracting attention in the film industry. o he also won the 2024 Award for the Promotion of Young Cinema Talent , which is awarded annually by the JFBB (Jewish Film Festival Berlin-Brandenburg) program department, for the role of Shlomi in the film “The Vanishing Soldier”.

Ido Tako began his acting career in Israel and quickly made a name for himself in the industry. One of his best-known appearances was in the TV series “Sky” (2021-2023), in which he played the role of Ericin 72 episodes. This series was instrumental in raising his profile and establishing him as a talented young actor. In 2023, Ido Tako played the role of Elisha in the film “Boys on Film 23: Dangerous to Know”, an anthology dealing with exciting and often provocative stories. This role showed a new facet of his acting skills and was positively received by critics. In 2024, Ido Tako will be seen in several productions, including the film “Come Closer” by Tom Nesher and “Youthful Grace” by Yuval Shani, which will further demonstrate his acting range. He also plays the role of Raffa in the TV series “Black Space”, a series that is eagerly awaited.

United Channels Movies (UCM) is one of the leading production companies in Israel, founded in 2007 by founding partners Chilik Michaeli, Avraham Pirchi & Tami Leon . UCM ‘s goal is to produce feature films that tell local stories for a broad international audience. UCM has long-standing relationships with its international partners and supporters. UCM films have attended the most important international film festivals, reached a worldwide audience and have been sold internationally.

“The Vanishing Soldier” offers a unique and compelling narrative that combines elements of drama, comedy and suspense. The movie explores themes of identity, the consequences of choices and the power dynamics in a military context. These themes are universal and speak to audiences across cultures and borders. Through the depiction of Shlomi’s quest for survival, belonging, autonomy, self-expression and emotional fulfillment, “The Vanishing Soldier” illustrates the basic needs of humanity and through Shlomi’s personal story, the film offers insight into the universal aspects of the human experience and gives viewers the opportunity to reflect on their own basic needs and desires.

For the UCM, cinema is not just entertainment. A good, valuable movie is one that has a clear message. “The Disappeared Soldier” reflects the challenges faced by today’s youth and highlights the discrepancy between their needs and desires, which unfortunately often remain unfulfilled. The cinematic expression of the film, the dizzying pace of events and the universal subject matter create a captivating experience that the viewer cannot remain indifferent to, reflecting the film’s unique message. As a production company focused on telling local stories for an international audience, UCM recognized the potential of this film to captivate viewers with its compelling story, unique setting and exploration of universal themes.

With the production of “The Vanishing Soldier”, which is set in Israel and revolves around an Israeli soldier, UCM aims to contribute to the cultural representation of Israel and give audiences an insight into the country’s social and political complexity.

Dani Rosenberg, the director of “The Vanishing Soldier”, is a highly qualified filmmaker and author.He graduated from the renowned Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem. His works have been critically acclaimed and screened at numerous international film festivals, including the official selection for the Cannes Film Festival 2020. UCM recognized his ability to explore different themes, his versatility as a creative artist and his ability to work with different mediums.

Ido Tako, who quickly became known in Israel as a teen series star, is a talented young actor whose lead performance of Shlomi is instrumental in conveying the emotional depth, struggles and personal journey that the character undergoes throughout the film. It will be exciting for audiences to see Taco’s transition to a more dramatic and complex role in the film, giving him the opportunity to show his development and versatility as an actor.

The production of “The Vanishing Soldier” presented a number of challenges, such as extensive location scouting, coordination with city authorities and managing the logistics associated with filming in public spaces. For UCM, however, the main challenge was to strike a balance between portraying military themes and making the film accessible and internationally appealing.”