Patrick Stewart Subbed for John Cleese in 2013 Israeli Caper

Patrick Stewart, the British actor who died this week, made one feature film in Israel before his death. His 2013 credit, Hunting Elephants, served as the opening-night selection for the Jerusalem Film Festival. The movie was a caper comedy directed by Reshef Levi that centered on a bank heist plot in the city.

Stewart joined a cast of established Israeli performers to play the great-uncle of a young boy. The boy, portrayed by Gil Blank, spends time with his grandfather and the man's friend at an assisted-living facility. Both men are former bank robbers. The narrative conflict arises after the boy's father, a bank guard, dies suddenly. The bank withholds the man's pension due to a technicality. Stewart's character arrives in Israel to assist the two men in robbing the institution to secure the funds for the family.

The script links Stewart's character to the family through the boy's British grandmother, who is in a coma. In a review written at the film's release, the actor was identified as the strongest element of the production. The critic noted that Stewart added life and flamboyance to the project. The role consisted of a series of comic bits, including a flashback to a Star Wars-themed Hamlet performance in England. The character is a broke lord and failed actor who sold his title to pay bills. The plot relied on the old Israelis' criminal history, Stewart's talent for deception, and the boy's knowledge of the bank's security system.

Stewart replaced John Cleese, who was originally cast in the part but fell ill before shooting began. At a promotional press conference in Tel Aviv, Stewart noted the linguistic challenge of the project. He stated that every character in the film except his own spoke Hebrew. He explained that he had visited Israel as a tourist a year prior to filming. That trip preceded a stage production of The Merchant of Venice, a role he performed five times.

Stewart said he had wanted to visit the region for decades to add verisimilitude to his work. He described his earlier visit as four extraordinary days that he did not want to end. Months later, he received a package containing the script for the Jerusalem-set film. He said he was delighted to return to the country as part of a production rather than as a tourist. He described the script as very funny and noted the presence of distinguished actors.

During the press conference, Stewart discussed his political views and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He identified himself as a lifelong Labor Party member who was always engaged in politics. He said solving the conflict would be his priority if he were a world leader. He emphasized the need to spend time in the region to understand the issues. He looked forward to having a clearer mind after a month of filming in Israel.

Stewart shared a piece of advice he received from two Jewish friends during his earlier visit. He told the audience that if one is outdoors and everyone else is running, one should pay attention.