The Red Sea Diving Resort

During the early 1980s, an undercover unit of Mossad agents embarked on a daring mission in war-torn Sudan. They took over an abandoned beach resort, strategically using it as a cover to rescue thousands of persecuted Ethiopian Jews and bring them to the safety of Jerusalem. This incredible true story revealed a compelling chapter in the history of the Jewish diaspora, highlighting themes of exile, the sanctity of life, and the pursuit of a promised land where all could live in harmony.

However, the recent adaptation of this story into a Netflix thriller, titled "The Red Sea Diving Resort," disappointingly reduces it to a mere footnote in the realm of white savior movies. The focus shifts from the plight of Ethiopian Jews and the courage it took for them to leave their homes and reach the coast, to an emphasis on Israeli heroism. This shift undermines the historical significance and depth of the story.

Nevertheless, within the context of Chris Evans' filmography, "The Red Sea Diving Resort" assumes importance. Evans, known for his iconic role as Captain America, takes on the character of Ari Levinson, a scruffy Mossad agent who devises the mission in a single moment. Ari exudes impulsiveness, setting him apart from the composed Steve Rogers, yet he retains the soul of a superhero. The film's introductory sequence, in which Ari risks his life to save an Ethiopian boy from armed militants, establishes the essence of the character and sets the tone for the overall two-dimensional nature of the movie crafted by writer-director Gideon Raff.

Ari's Jewish identity is more prominently explored than in any of Evans' previous roles. The film uses the fact that Ari and his team, including Haley Bennett, Alessandro Nivola, and Michiel Huisman, can pass as non-Jewish individuals to emphasize the necessity of maintaining a low profile and avoiding arousing suspicion from the Sudanese military. This becomes crucial as their mission unfolds. The Sudanese military, led by a sinister figure portrayed by Chris Chalk, receives financial incentives for every refugee under their control. Chalk's character, distinct from his henchmen only by his unique guitar-playing style, is the primary obstacle faced by the team and adds a touch of tension to the story, although this is introduced relatively late in the film.

Unfortunately, the film provides little detail about Kabede Bimro, a character intended to represent the Ethiopian Jews who undertook the journey to salvation. Michael K. Williams' performance as Kabede hints at the untapped potential of the role, which ultimately becomes a broad representation of an entire tribe. Kabede is given only a few minutes of screen time, during which it becomes evident that "The Red Sea Diving Resort" erases him from his own narrative.

Director Gideon Raff accentuates this issue at every opportunity. The film opens with Kabede's awe-inspiring voiceover, emphasizing the shared history, dreams, and hopes of those involved. Yet, shortly afterward, the narrative shifts to Ari as the central voice, sidelining Kabede until the end when he summarizes the supposed commonalities between the characters.

As the story progresses, the Ethiopian Jews are relegated to the background, overshadowed by the strained friendship between Evans' and Nivola's characters. Despite the commendable efforts of both actors, their performances struggle to elevate the lackluster action sequences and a montage set to Duran Duran's music. The most successful scene in the film is the one that humorously showcases the spies' need to maintain the facade of a legitimate beach resort when German tourists arrive unexpectedly. The cast brings a charming charisma to their roles, even though Haley Bennett's character lacks significant dialogue, focusing more on physicality. However, director Gideon Raff fails to strike