FLIPPING OUT (FLIP)

After 3 years of compulsory military service, many young Israeli soldiers use their discharge bonus to unwind. Thousands retreat to Himalayan townships in the summer and warm Goa in the winter. Here, in guest houses catering exclusively for Israelis, they try to relax by taking copious amounts of drugs. Each year some 2,000 of them will need professional help for their excesses. High in the mountains, they smoke, enjoy the view or dance around the clock, but detachment from the past comes at a price. The young Israelis tell of their deployment reluctantly, almost mechanically. Having lived through such strain, it's no wonder that some end up freaking out. Some even suffer hallucinations and psychotic episodes. The Israeli state looks after their sons and daughters with on-site therapeutic support centres, and a former Mossad tracker agent brings the wayward back into the fold. The Israeli microcosm depicted reflects a society under permanent strain with no idea how to vent the pressure.

Workshop with Yoav Shamir, Wednesday, 07. May, 10.00 a.m. HFF (to 3 p.m. approx.)