Mothers pamper their children, but the single mom in Netalie Brown’s Israeli feature film wins first prize in this category.
Anat (Dana Ivgy) is so protective of her son, Ido (Ben Sultan), that she threatens to emasculate him. Her obsessive actions unfold in Oxygen, a competently-crafted movie due to be screened at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival, which runs from June 4-14.
Anat, perfectly portrayed by Ivgy, cannot wait until Ido, her only child, finishes his army service and returns to Haifa. A dreamy teacher who loves poetry, she is a patriot whose retired father (Marek Rozenbaum) was a general in the army and a hero on the battlefield. In her classroom, Anat teaches her prepubescent students the value of patriotism.
Nonetheless, Anat is glad that Ido, a commando in an elite unit, is finally coming home. She is looking forward to a trip to India they have planned together. Much to her bewilderment and disappointment, Ido does not return from his base.
Another war, pitting Israel against Hezbollah in Lebanon, has broken out, and Ido, as broodingly played by Sultan, has decided to extend his service. Not being aware of his sudden decision, Anat travels to his base to meet him.
Ido’s absence is not Anat’s only problem. The health of her frail father is in sharp decline. When a siren in their neighborhood goes off, warning of incoming enemy rockets, he does not head for the shelter, but remains in his flat, complaining of breathing problems.
When Ido belatedly shows up, Anat is ecstatic and obligingly proceeds to do his laundry. Yet their tight bond seems frayed. Ido appears remote and does not eat the special meal she has cooked for him.
He informs her that he is returning to his base to participate in the imminent Israeli invasion of southern Lebanon. This is a reference, of course, to Israel’s ground operation in 2024.
To add to her misery, Anat has mixed emotions about Ido’s girlfriend, Tamar. Although Anat thinks she is very sweet, she is probably jealous of their relationship.
In a desperate attempt to keep Ido in Haifa and out of Lebanon, Anat comes up with a practical solution. Ido rejects it, sending Anat into an emotional tailspin.
To Anat, an exceedingly caring and affectionate mother, Ido’s attitude smacks of unrequited love.
Eventually, Ido apologizes for his curt behavior, a gesture that emboldens Anat to visit his base in a restricted area. Later, thanks to her father’s influence, she manages to see Ido for his birthday.
In a television broadcast, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu assures the nation that Israel’s “final victory” in Lebanon is at hand. His comments may be a dig at Netanyahu’s government, which has so far failed to achieve its main objectives in either Lebanon or the Gaza Strip.
As Oxygen winds down, Anat hatches one final scheme to exempt Ido from military service. It’s a desperate gambit, but fully in keeping with a mother’s desire to shield her son from possible harm.
Anat’s swirling emotions rise and fall and are conveyed realistically in Brown’s empathetic film.