‘Checkout,' ‘Fauda’ test the appetite for Israeli spy stories after October 7

Two Israeli productions, the dark comedy film "Checkout" and the fifth season of the Netflix series "Fauda," are testing audience interest in Israeli spy stories in the United States following the October 7 attacks. "Checkout," an indie film about an aging Mossad operative, premiered to a sold-out audience in Manhattan despite its writer/director Jonathan Dekel noting that "It's hard for Israeli movies right now to find an audience because everything translates to, you know, the 'P' [Palestinian] problem." The new season of "Fauda," a global hit, directly addresses the trauma of October 7 and has garnered significant international attention, with creator Lior Raz stating, "I want them to look in my character's eyes, and to see what we felt on those days." Both productions navigate a challenging climate where Israeli cultural exports face increased scrutiny, yet they are finding audiences, with "Fauda" becoming the most-watched season of any show in the history of Israel's Yes network.