Water Tower Murder

David Tidhar emerges as a captivating figure in pre-state Israeli history — a multifaceted personality who was simultaneously a Hebrew Battalion soldier, defense activist, British Mandate police investigator, Israel’s first private detective, a key figure in the Freemasons, and a successful writer. Tidhar paradoxically faded from collective memory over time. This ground-breaking documentary seeks to unravel Tidhar’s mysterious disappearance from historical records. Daniel believes the detective’s obscurity relates to an enigmatic murder investigation from his private detective days. The film reconstructs a complex narrative set in 1937 Tel Aviv, beginning with Tidhar’s investigation into the murder of an unremarkable engineer. What initially appears to be a straightforward case quickly transforms into a labyrinthine story revealing the city’s dark underbelly — a world of murders, smuggling, and secret Nazi spy cells. Using actors and AI animation, the film resurrects historical characters and Tidhar himself. Daniel metaphorically steps into the detective’s shoes, attempting to expose one of pre-state Palestine’s most electrifying mysteries. Through archival research, expert interviews, and newly discovered Nazi documents, the film provocatively questions the original murder.