The film is based on the events that happened on the ship Exodus in 1947 as well as events

dealing with the founding of the state of Israel in 1948. Despite dramatic license of some
historical facts, both the film and novel Exodus trace the formation of the modern state of Israel
using actual events. oth the novel and film Exodus open with the ritish intervention in the
vo!age of a ship of "uropean #ewish immigrants illegall! attempting to reach $alestine. In #ul!
1947 a ship named Exodus 1947 was the first immigrant ship to be turned bac% b! ritish
authorities.
The film tells the epic stor! of a group of #ewish refugees imprisoned at a ritish internment
camp at &!prus, their successful attempt to reach $alestine b! stealing a ship 'which the! rename
the "(odus), and their e(periences in $alestine*s sectarian, conflict+ridden political landscape
leading up to Israeli ,ar of Independence.
-ri*s uncle, the leader of the Irgun, e(plains wh! violence is necessar! to force the ritish to
leave $alestine. -ri*s -rab best friend strives for coe(istence with #ews, but is ultimatel! treated
as a traitor b! the uncompromising $alestinian leadership. -nd a friendl! ritish general e(plains
that the ritish troops are onl! following orders and want to get out of $alestine as much as
ever!one wants to see them leave
The film*s ideal seems to be a world where ever! nation is free to reali.e self+determination, but
where pluralism and peaceful cultural e(change / not violent struggles / are the norm. This is
the %ind of a world where a #ew, li%e -ri en+&anaan, can fight for Israeli independence, while
still being able to fall in love with a &hristian and sustain a friendship with an -rab. it allows
present da! viewers to understand the fervor that Israelis e(press in the defense of their hard
earned homeland.