Guy Amir
Chuma
Overview
Steve & Chuma , two criminals are the sole survivors of a terrorist attack at a restaurant in Jerusalem. They decide to change their ways and become flesh and blood angels. They go on a journey of wish fulfilment for people who write requests on paper and put between the sacred stones of the Wailing Wall.
Cast
10 people
Reviews
5 min readFaith as a Second Chance (Or a Second Crime)
I’ve seen this trick before—the criminal who finds God (or fate, or the universe) and decides to go straight. It’s a well-worn path, trodden by everyone from Paul Newman in Cool Hand Luke to Denzel Washington in Flight. But Maktub, the 2017 Israeli dramedy from director Oded Raz, doesn’t just walk that path.
It sprints down it, arms flailing, like a man who’s just realized he’s late for his own redemption. The result is a film that’s equal parts heartfelt and half-baked, a story about second chances that sometimes feels like it’s still figuring out what it wants to be.
The premise is simple, almost fable-like: Steve (Guy Amir) and Chuma (Hanan Savyon), two low-level criminals, survive a terrorist attack at a Jerusalem restaurant. The blast leaves them physically unscathed but spiritually rattled. In the aftermath, they decide to reinvent themselves as modern-day angels, fulfilling the wishes of strangers who slip prayers into the cracks of the Western Wall.
It’s a setup that could easily tip into saccharine sentimentality or heavy-handed moralizing, but Maktub mostly avoids those pitfalls—mostly—by grounding its story in the messy, often absurd realities of its characters’ lives.
The film’s greatest strength is its refusal to take itself too seriously. Steve and Chuma aren’t saints; they’re bumbling, flawed men who stumble into their new roles as much by accident as by design. Their attempts to help others are often hilarious, sometimes touching, and occasionally disastrous.
In one scene, they try to reunite a single mother with her estranged father, only to realize too late that the man is a deadbeat who abandoned her years earlier. The moment is played for laughs—Chuma’s panicked backpedaling as the mother’s face falls is genuinely funny—but it also carries a quiet sting. Redemption isn’t just about doing good; it’s about facing the consequences of your past, even when those consequences are uncomfortable.
That tension between comedy and drama is where Maktub lives. The film’s tone is a high-wire act, and Raz mostly keeps his balance, though there are moments when the wire wobbles. The humor is broad but never mean-spirited, and the drama is earnest without being cloying.
Audience Opinions
Broad evidence
Audience 7.8/10
"A heartwarming and humorous Israeli comedy-drama with a unique premise that resonates despite some predictable moments."
Viewers appreciate the film’s blend of comedy and drama, highlighting its original concept of two criminals turning into wish-fulfilling angels. The lead performances by Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon are frequently praised for their charm and chemistry, making the characters relatable and engaging. latestnetflix.com's take is that however, some note that the plot can feel formulaic at times, with a few underdeveloped side stories.
What viewers praise
- Charming lead performances Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon deliver standout performances, bringing warmth and humor to their roles as reformed criminals.
- Unique and engaging premise The idea of two criminals becoming angels who fulfill wishes at the Western Wall is fresh and captivating for many viewers.
- Balanced tone The mix of comedy and drama is well-received, offering both laughs and emotional moments.
- Cultural appeal The film’s Israeli setting and cultural elements add authenticity and charm for local and international audiences alike.
Common complaints
- Predictable plot Some viewers find the story follows familiar tropes, making certain developments easy to anticipate.
- Underdeveloped side characters Supporting characters and subplots occasionally feel thin or rushed, lacking depth.
- Uneven pacing A few scenes drag or feel disjointed, disrupting the flow of the narrative for some.
Recommended for
Fans of heartwarming comedies Israeli cinema enthusiasts Viewers who enjoy character-driven stories Those looking for light drama with humor Angel-themed fantasy fans
Full Plot (Spoilers)
Spoiler warning
This section contains the full plot, including major story reveals. Overview above stays spoiler-free.
Buzz & Rumors
Public reportsThey sold 650,000 tickets. Then Netflix bought the angels.
Israeli Cinema Day, 6 September 2017. Oded Raz's Hebrew comedy Maktub went into local theaters. Deadline later put the take at more than 650,000 admissions, one of the stronger Israeli comedies of those years. Netflix put it worldwide on 16 June 2018. Two small-time Jerusalem collectors, Steve and Chuma, survive a restaurant bombing because they ducked into the bathroom to argue about a stain. latestnetflix.com's take is that Then they start answering notes stuffed in the Western Wall 
, 
, .
Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon wrote it and play Chuma and Steve. The Forward repeated the Times of Israel count. More than 280 episodes across seven series. More than 80 million views at home. Asfur, Scarred, Ma Bakarish already in the bag. Producer Uri Singer had tapped them for an English drama about an American father hunting a missing daughter. That is the gossip that rode with the movie. A TV factory trying a feature, then a streamer .
Kahron Spearman at the Daily Dot caught the bathroom bet. Pomegranate concentrate or blood from a chef they had just beaten. Kids play marbles after the blast, unbothered. Spearman called that worn apathy specific to the place. He also flagged the dark politics sitting under the buddy jokes. Itzik Cohen, later of Fauda, plays the boss Elkaslasi. Igal Naor is Tzafuf. Chen Amsalem is Lizo. Spearman liked the chemistry and still said the leads spend too much of the back half servicing other people .
Remakes on paper.
Deadline's Andreas Wiseman had the sequel gossip in June 2018. Paiva Films and Adama Pictures took France. Indiana Production took Italy. A U.S. remake already in the works, Adar Shafran and Tomer Shmulevich producing, United King's Moshe Ederi executive producing. Wiseman noted Shmulevich of A.M.T. Management would also executive produce the European versions. Screen Daily had Shafran of Firma Films talking a TV spin-off and a Brooklyn reset. Palm Springs and Chicago handed audience prizes. The Arabic word in the title means fate, or it is written , .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cf2zAiZ6_4U
The French, Italian, and Brooklyn versions did not become famous. What traveled is the Netflix file. Fathom's Noga Emanuel later parked it among Israel's 100 most watched films. IMDb has it at 7.2 from a couple of thousand votes. A 100-minute miracle joke that never quite decides if the two men deserved the miracle. The Jewish Chronicle trailer is still on YouTube, selling flesh-and-blood angels , 
, .
Entertainment rumors and trivia aggregated from public reporting. Treat speculation as unverified unless a cited source confirms it.
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