10%: What Makes a Hero?

What happens when you put good people in evil places? This is one of the questions Israeli director Yoav Shamir asks himself with the documentary 10%: What Makes A Hero? After seeing a picture from the Nazi era, of a man standing with his arms down in the middle of a crowd giving the Nazi salute, Yoav becomes almost obsessed with the task of finding the recipe for heroism. He wants to discover that secret ingredient that distinguishes heroes from us ordinary people. The director sets out on a journey in all directions; visiting chimpanzees and apes in South Africa, archives in the USA, altruistic neurosurgeons, and reformed suicide bombers.

Suitable for persons 15 years and older

Yoav Shamir, born in Tel Aviv in 1970, is an Israeli documentary filmmaker. His documentaries Checkpoint (2003) and Defamation (2009) have won awards at several international film festivals. His involvement in the conflict between Israel and Palestine has garnered both acclaim and heavy criticism.