🎯 Quick Overview
Trailer
- Director: Gideon Raff
- Genre: Drama, Thriller, History
- Release year: 2019
- Runtime (length): 2h 9min
- IMDb rating: 6.6/10 (36K votes)
- Rotten Tomatoes: 20%
😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained
Captain America and his friends run a failing resort in Sudan as a side hustle to sneak thousands of Ethiopian Jews into Israel, all while dodging a suspicious colonel who just wants to enjoy the hotel amenities.
🍿 The Red Sea Diving Resort: Detailed Plot Synopsis
Setting the Stage: Ethiopia and Sudan, 1979
The film opens in 1979, highlighting the plight of Ethiopian Jewish refugees fleeing persecution amidst a brutal civil war. Mossad agent Ari Levinson, driven by a deep sense of responsibility, embarks on clandestine missions to rescue these refugees and transport them to Israel. He partners with Kabede Bimro, a local Ethiopian, navigating dangerous territories and facing constant threats from hostile forces. Their early efforts highlight the immense risks and challenges involved in these rescue operations.

The Diving Resort Cover: A Risky Plan
Frustrated by the limitations of their existing methods, Ari proposes an audacious plan to his superiors: establishing a front in Sudan to facilitate larger-scale evacuations. The idea involves leasing the abandoned Red Sea Diving Resort, a coastal hotel, and operating it as a legitimate business while secretly smuggling refugees to waiting ships offshore. This unorthodox plan is met with skepticism but ultimately approved, leading Ari to assemble a team of fellow agents.

Operating the Resort: Balancing Act
The team transforms the dilapidated resort into a functioning hotel, attracting tourists and creating a plausible cover for their true activities. Simultaneously, they work with Kabede to transport refugees across vast distances to the resort, coordinating covert operations under the watchful eyes of Sudanese authorities. The narrative follows the team’s efforts to balance the demands of running a business with the perilous task of rescuing and evacuating refugees, leading to tense situations and near-misses.

Rising Suspicion and a Final Extraction
As the operation progresses, Sudanese Colonel Abdel Ahmed grows increasingly suspicious, launching investigations that threaten to expose the team’s activities. The situation escalates when a member of Ahmed’s forces discovers a hidden group of refugees, forcing the team to take drastic action. With their cover blown and time running out, Ari devises a desperate plan for a final, large-scale extraction using a cargo plane, relying on the assistance of a CIA operative.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained
🎬 Cast & Characters
- Ari Levinson (Chris Evans): An impassioned Mossad agent who leads the mission to rescue Ethiopian Jewish refugees by running a covert operation disguised as a resort.
- Kabede Bimro (Michael Kenneth Williams): A courageous Ethiopian Hebrew who collaborates with Ari to evacuate refugees and serves as a crucial local contact.
- Sammy Navon (Alessandro Nivola): A skilled but cautious Mossad agent who is part of Ari’s team and often questions his leader’s impulsive decisions.
- Rachel Reiter (Haley Bennett): A resourceful Mossad agent and member of Ari’s team who plays a vital role in managing the resort and the rescue operation.
- Colonel Abdel Ahmed (Chris Chalk): A ruthless Sudanese military officer who becomes suspicious of the resort and relentlessly investigates the refugee operation.
- Ethan Levin (Ben Kingsley): An Israeli intelligence officer who approves Ari’s unconventional plan and provides support while warning of the mission’s risks.
- Walton Bowen (Greg Kinnear): A CIA officer who is aware of Ari’s activities and provides assistance, particularly in the final extraction.
💬 Memorable Quotes
- Ari: “We’re not just saving people, we’re bringing them home.” – Ari says this highlighting the importance of their mission to provide Ethiopian Jews with a homeland in Israel.
- Sammy: “When the luck runs out, then you gotta have a plan and you never have one. So I’m out.” – Sammy expresses his frustration with Ari’s reckless approach to missions, lacking foresight and planning.
- Ethan Levin: “This mission is risky. There is no exfiltration plan.” – Ethan warns Ari and his team about the dangers involved and the lack of backup if things go wrong.
💰Box Office
- Budget: N/A
- Domestic Gross: N/A
- Worldwide Gross: N/A
💥 The Red Sea Diving Resort Reviews
Personal Review
I found ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ to be a mixed bag. On one hand, the historical event it’s based on is incredible and inspiring. Chris Evans does a solid job, and the supporting cast is strong. However, it felt like it missed some emotional depth. There are moments that should have been incredibly moving, but they just didn’t quite land for me. The ending, while satisfying, felt a little rushed, like they were trying to tie everything up too quickly. I admire what the film tried to do, but I wish it had dug deeper into the characters and their motivations. Still, I’m glad I watched it to learn about this piece of history.
- Who would enjoy:
- “Viewers interested in historical dramas”
- “Fans of spy thrillers with a humanitarian focus”
- “Those seeking stories of courage and resilience”
- “People who enjoy movies based on true events”
- Content warnings ⚠:
- “Violence”
- “Intense scenes of persecution and conflict”
- “Brief language”
- “May be emotionally disturbing for sensitive viewers”
Professional Reviews
- High on Films: “Despite a gripping true story at its core, ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ fails to fully realize its potential. The film showcases a compelling narrative but suffers from a lack of emotional depth and somewhat predictable plot elements. Chris Evans delivers a commendable performance, yet the overall execution falls short of creating a truly impactful cinematic experience.
- N/A: “Even with an amazing true life tale at its core and potential to be a moving and thrilling event, The Red Sea Diving Resort is another Netflix misfire that’s so instantly forgettable you wonder what the very point of the whole outing was.
Audience Reactions
The film is suspenseful and thrilling, especially in the latter half.: Many viewers found the story engaging and appreciated that it was based on a true event, even if dramatized.
Some viewers felt the film took liberties with historical accuracy and painted a ‘white savior’ narrative.: Some viewers have criticized the casting and the way the story was adapted for the screen.
Overall Consensus: While many found ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ to be an engaging and suspenseful telling of an important historical event, others felt that it lacked depth, authenticity, and suffered from a typical ‘Hollywood’ treatment, possibly taking liberties with the true story.
Awards
🛠️ Behind the Scenes
- “The film is based on the real-life Operation Moses and Operation Joshua, covert missions undertaken by Israel to evacuate Ethiopian Jews to Israel during the early 1980s.”
- “The Red Sea Diving Resort was primarily filmed in South Africa, utilizing the landscape to stand in for Sudan and other Middle Eastern locations.”
- “While the film takes liberties with the true story for dramatic effect, the core narrative of Mossad agents running a resort as a cover for refugee operations is based on factual events.”
🖥️ How to Watch The Red Sea Diving Resort?
The Red Sea Diving Resort is currently available to stream on Netflix. Check local listings for availability in your region. As a Netflix original, it’s unlikely to be found on other streaming platforms like Prime Video or Apple TV. Digital purchase options may become available through platforms like Google Play Movies or Vudu, but this is not guaranteed.

🎥 Similar Movies
If you enjoyed The Red Sea Diving Resort, you might like these similar films:
- Argo (2012): Both films are based on true stories of covert operations to rescue people from hostile environments, using inventive methods and disguises.
- Hotel Rwanda (2004): Deals with themes of genocide, moral courage and individuals risking their lives to save others amid political turmoil in Africa.
- Munich (2005): Focuses on the moral complexities and psychological toll of covert operations carried out by Israeli agents in response to a crisis.
- Operation Finale (2018): Another historical drama centered around Mossad agents undertaking a dangerous mission to capture a high-profile Nazi criminal hiding in South America.
🛒 The Red Sea Diving Resort Related Products
- Operation Brothers: The Inside Story of the Mossad’s Secret Mission to Rescue Ethiopian Jews: An in-depth account of the real-life Operation Brothers, offering a more comprehensive perspective than the film.
- Chris Evans Movie Poster: Commemorate Chris Evans’ performance in ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ with a high-quality print of the official movie poster. Features the ensemble cast and captures the intensity of the rescue mission.
- Mossad Agent Role Play Kit: Encourage imaginative play with a Mossad-inspired role play kit. Includes toy walkie-talkie, a fake passport, and decoder glasses. A unique way to engage with the themes of espionage and rescue.
🎧 Soundtrack
The Red Sea Diving Resort features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:
You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.
🤨 FAQ
Yes, the film is inspired by the real-life Operation Brothers, a series of covert missions undertaken by Mossad agents in the late 1970s and early 1980s to rescue Ethiopian Jewish refugees and transport them to Israel.
Filming primarily took place in Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa. This location provided a suitable backdrop for recreating the Sudanese coastline and landscapes featured in the story.
The film was directed by Gideon Raff, an Israeli filmmaker known for his work on the television series ‘Prisoners of War’ (which was adapted into the American series ‘Homeland’).
🔥 Bonus Content
The Red Sea Diving Resort | “Inspired by Real Events” Special Piece | Netflix
Ever wondered how much of ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’ is actually based on true events? This special Netflix piece dives into the real-life rescue missions that inspired the movie – it’s fascinating to see the line between fiction and reality blurred!
DECLASSIFIED: Israel’s Operation to Rescue Ethiopia’s Jews
Want to know the *real* story behind ‘The Red Sea Diving Resort’? This short documentary gives you an inside look at Operation Solomon, the incredible mission to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Seriously, the bravery is astounding!
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