The city of Be'er Sheva, the year 2001. A group of boys in a distressed neighborhood decides to make money by trading in stolen drugs, and begins operating a drug station based on student clients from Ben-Gurion University.
Their success attracts the attention of the big crime gangs in Be'er Sheva, and the young gang gets entangled and gets into a fight in the underworld.
This is the story that underlies the series "Bnei Or" created by Guy Balila and Elad Bitton and aired by Biss, a story based on real events that took place on Bnei Or Street in the B neighborhood of Be'er Sheva.
On this story, which reveals violence, drugs and distress of teenagers and is now mediated through the screen through actors who know this world from their own lives as at-risk teens, our cultural correspondent Maya Cohen spoke at the Israel Today conference with the series' director Shai Kanot, and two of her actors: Magen Minoav Who plays "Mula" and Uriel Atias who plays Marco.
One of the things we wanted to do in the series is to bring in actors who herald credible authenticity and not actors in the first place, "most of the guys were cast against a similar background," says director Shai Honesty.
Uriel Atias, who plays Marco in the series, honestly shared his personal life: "The series felt very familiar to me. I came from the Katamonim in Jerusalem and was very familiar with this situation. I was also this person. I went through 12 schools, I did drugs and stabbed."
The minivan defender, who plays "Mula", tells of the tortuous path he went through until he managed to enter the realm of the game. "I wanted to be an actor, but it's hard when you do not have support, family and financial back. It was very difficult to do everything alone, but what stood out to me was that Moula really wanted to succeed. He trades in drugs to make a living and to succeed. He is similar to me because I was 13-14 years old and had no money and had to steal
Bnei Or has received much criticism, especially for its difficult content and its potentially dangerous effects on teenagers.
"This is not a children's series originally," says Honesty.
"I wanted to stay authentic to the script and I did not imagine that this would affect the youth. There were many viewers that the series reminded them of their childhood. If you look at 'Bnei Or' you will see that it is a part of life. Atias reinforced his words:
Teens check boundaries and even today may take a knife and stab and then blame the series.
We're just telling a story, "he seeks to clarify." I came out of this world by all that I was strong enough and whole with myself to understand that if you go on that side then you will be in jail and lose everything. "
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