“David,” the animated musical retelling of the shepherd boy who defeated Goliath and became king of Israel, opened in Israeli theaters on February 26 — just in time for the Purim holiday and two days before the beginning of the US-Israel war with Iran.

With missile warning sirens sending people scrambling for shelter, the Home Front Command ordered theaters closed just after the film’s Israeli debut — but local viewers can now catch it over the Passover holiday as many cinemas resume screenings.

The 110-minute film is geared primarily towards kids and focuses on David’s rise to power, mostly drawing from the biblical book of Samuel 1, with a little bit of Samuel 2 thrown in for good measure.

The richly colored animation dreamed up by South African computer animation studio Sunrise Productions brings the poppy-filled fields, flowering almond trees, and woven frocks of ancient Israel to life.

There are plenty of catchy tunes, mostly sung by David, the author of dozens of psalms, who also played the lyre and harp. At some points, viewers may be reminded of “Prince of Egypt” with hints of “The Lion King.”

And if the voices and dialogue sound a little contemporary American, it makes sense that a 2025 production about a biblical king got updated for the times.

“David” was produced by Angel Studios, a Provo, Utah, company originally founded by Latter-day Saints and known for its faith-based films.

The film’s South African........

© The Times of Israel