Gdud A'liyah (2021): cast, story & where to watch

Released in 2021, Gdud A'liyah is a documentary film directed by Joshua Faudem, running about 51 minutes. “Together, Stronger!” — that tagline sets the tone.

What it’s about. The long lasting Palestinian-Israeli conflict has created appaling phenomenons that have horrified the Israeli society. the "politically conscience-refusals" or those individual soldiers refusing to fight in the occupied territories, are one of those phenomenons. In opposition to them stand a thousand immigrants from the former Soviet Union, ex-military men from the Red Army, who yearn to be recruited into the IDF and fight for Israel, but who are denied the right to serve in the army. Through the stories of Oleg and Alex, immigrants and the battalion's charismatic commanders, the story of the Russkii Battalion is told. It is a story of contrasts between the hardships of the daily struggles they face as new immigrants against the pride and the sense of belonging they find in the battalion. The Russkii Battalion is a film about a militaristic social bubble, in a country that is in constant war.

Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Gdud A'liyah page.

If you liked it. Fans of Gdud A'liyah tend to enjoy One Direction: This Is Us, Burn the Stage: The Movie, BTS World Tour: Love Yourself - Japan Edition and Senna.