Mystery in Class

This film by ‘Shalhin Productions – Children’s Educational Films’ features the stories of the students and teachers at Rishon LeZion’s Rosen School (just outside Tel Aviv), through which it tackles a range of educational hot topics. The children grapple with violence and bullying incidents in the schoolyard, a spate of thefts in the classroom, personal labels and stigmas, and the immense challenge of shaking those off, and concepts such as friendship and respect. Ben and Nimrod, who fail to offer their seats to an elderly woman at the bus stop, are given an educational ‘punishment’ in the form of having to go to the woman’s home and keep her company; Yael, meanwhile, must come to terms with her parents’ divorce; whereas Ronen, whose dad had recently been sacked from his job, befriends a pair of young thugs who start showering him with gifts – all of which are stolen.

Directed by Shaul Shalhin, Mystery in Class leans on a strong ensemble — Dalia Shimko, Idit Tzur, Gita Luka — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about screen titles of 1987.