In the midst of my research into the tragic fate of Rona de Ricci ( 1965 - 2020, Resquiescat In Pace), and piecing together a fuller account of this obscure actor's fate*, I decided to give "Rage and Glory" (1984) a watch. The film is shot almost entirely in Hebrew; the Samuel Goldwyn DVD I have has unobtrusive English subtitles.

This was De Ricci's first film appearance, when she would've been about 19. Her role as Angela is a relatively small one. She is the love interest of one of the resistance fighters of the Lehi, otherwise known as the "Stern Gang"-- though her character is not involved in their activities, being a member of an apolitical family of wealthy Jews living in British-mandate Palestine in 1942.

Directed by Avi Nesher, this Israeli film is a fictionalized account of the Lehi's violent efforts to eject the British from Palestine and create an independent, Jewish Israel. The Lehi were either freedom fighters or terrorists, depending on one's point of view. They were the most radical of the three major anti-British Jewish insurgent groups at the time-- the other two being Irgun (which the Lehi had broken from) and Haganah. At the beginning of the film, there is a text disclaimer stating that this is one of the most controversial subjects of the early Israeli independence movement (the British would not leave Palestine until 1948, after some eight years of bloody insurrection).

The British do not come off well in this film. In one of the first scenes, a young Jewish man-- a sympathizer to the anti-British independence movement --is seen tied to a chair, completely naked, in British Army/secret police headquarters, as he is mercilessly beaten by an interrogator. Refusing to divulge any information, electrodes are attached to his genitalia and he is electrically shocked. The next morning he is shown being taken from the building deceased, in a body bag.

All throughout the film the British authorities are shown riven with anti-Semitism, there is much harassment and raiding of Jewish homes, and hangings after very brief trials.

Given all of this as well as a topless scene by De Ricci on her character's wedding night, though this film was released unrated, I'd give it an R under the U.S. rating system, in case anyone is wondering about content.

Just as an aside, if anyone else is curious about the ugly under-belly of British colonialism, they might want to check out Breaker Morant (1979) (concerning activities in South Africa during the Boer War, which also explores colonial arrogance towards subject white colonials-- in the case of that film, Australian troops), and The Kitchen Toto (1987) (concerning British activities in Kenya).

*Concerning Rona De Ricci--

I am currently reading her autobiography, "Truth and Dare" (2020), and after finishing that and concluding some other research, I will be posting more about her on her page here on TMDB. Probably around April or so of this year (2023), if anyone is interested.