Toward the end of the 1990s, I interviewed Moshe Katsav, who was then Israel’s minister of tourism in Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s first government. Little did I know that he would soon be the president of Israel, a position he held from 2000 to 2007.
Born in Iran, Katsav immigrated to Israel, along with his family, in 1951. Drawn to politics, he became a rising star in the right-wing Likud Party, holding a succession of ministerial posts after Netanyahu defeated Shimon Peres of the Labor Party in the 1996 election.
An ambitious politician, he projected the solid image of a model family man thanks to his seemingly happy marriage to a domesticated woman he had known since adolescence. But there was a dark side to Katsav. He was a serial sexual predator who exploited his power to prey on female employees.
For years, he was protected by a mendacious conspiracy of silence manipulated by his complicit aides. But after a courageous woman in his office accused him of rape, his days as president and as a free man were numbered.
Unsilenced, a six-part Israeli series that begins on the ChaiFlicks streaming platform on September 26, is based on a novel by Odellia Karmon and is inspired by real events. An outstanding production in every respect, it unfolds through the eyes of six characters who knew Katsev or were abused by him.
Katsev, portrayed with panache by Yaakov Zada Daniel, is never identified by his surname and is always referred to as president. As he comes across here, he’s a good-natured, glad-handing pol who has a weakness for attractive women. In the first episode, Oshrat Moreno (Nelly Mira Rubin) appears in his crosshairs. He buys her earrings for her birthday. He arranges for a renowned doctor to treat her mother’s heart condition. He promises to promote her to bureau chief. His generosity is underpinned by an ulterior motive.
As his ardor grows, he confesses he cannot stop thinking of Oshrat because he has fallen in love with her. “You drive me mad,” he says, forcibly kissing her. In the role of Oshrat, Rubin is astonishingly convincing.
Having rejected his overtures, Oshrat discovers she has been replaced and demoted. Her sister urges her to quit, but Katsav’s conniving chief of staff, Avinoam Gaon (Avraham Shalom Levi), advises her to cooperate. As Katsav’s assistant, Levi is remarkably good.
In short order, Katsav apologizes and reinstates Oshrat, only to subsequently take advantage of her. Meanwhile, Gaon tries to prevent Oshrat from contacting the police, while Oshart asks for $200,000 in compensation from Katsav. He’s prepared to pay her off, but Gaon and the president’s mother strongly advise him to reject her demand.
In a bid to undermine Oshrat’s credibility, Gaon tells investigators she is blackmailing Katsav. He also warns Oshrat she faces imprisonment. At first, she is intimidated by his threat, but then, out of rage and desperation, she files a complaint with the police.
The hard-driving police inspector who handles the case, Yana Reuven (played exceedingly well by Lena Fraifeld), is sympathetic and believes Katsav is guilty as charged. Her superiors think otherwise.
Nonetheless, Reuven moves ahead with the case by interviewing Gaon’s girlfriend, Abigail Rimon (Dana Meinrath, in a fine performance), a media consultant who was once sexually assaulted by Katsav. Eager to see justice done, she contacts a newspaper reporter. He writes a story that costs her dearly.
As these events transpire, Katsav’s loyal wife, Shula (Irit Benedek) is slowly imploding with shame and anger, while a long list of women who have been abused by Katsav come forward.
Neither Oshrat nor Katsav are prepared to accept a plea bargain deal under which he will be charged with only moral turpitude. Oshrat seeks justice and Katsav is determined to prove his innocence.
Avigail testifies again, saying she will be silenced no more.
Unsilenced ends with Katsav’s trial in 2011. Convicted of rape and obstruction of justice, he got what he richly deserved. Unsilenced portrays this sordid affair with seriousness, empathy and flair.