Forever Pure
Tehora la'ad
International Panorama
Maya Zinshtein
Israel, United Kingdom, Ireland, Norway
2016
87min
Hebrew, Russian, Chechen
![](https://verzio.org/sites/default/files/images/2017/films/thumbnails/fp_stills_v.1_-_key_image.jpg)
Beitar Jerusalem F.C. is the most popular and controversial football team in Israel, and was the only club in the Premier League never to sign an Arab player. Midway through the 2012-13 season, the team owner, Russian-Israeli oligarch Arcadi Gaydamak, brought two Muslim players from Chechnya onto the team through a secret transfer deal. This led to the most racist campaign in Israeli sport and sent the club spiralling out of control. One season in the life of this famed club tells the story of Israeli society, personal identity, politics, money, and how racism is destroying a team and society from within.
Projections:
Producer:
Maya Zinshtein
Geoff Arbourne
Co-producer:
Alan Maher
Torstein Grude
Editor:
Justine Wright
Noam Amit
Camera:
Sergei (Israel) Freedman
Music:
Stephen Rennicks
Distribution info:
Dogwoof
Awards:
RiverRun International Film Festival - Documentary Feature (2017)
Jerusalem Film Festival - Best Director of a Documentary (2017)
Tromsø International Film Festival - Faith in Film Award (2017)