After the six days are over, they sit the young soldiers down, and in a frank tone the leading officer reads off everyone's names, telling them bluntly whether they passed or failed.

[1][2] Pilots in the Israeli army are so highly esteemed that young men and women are willing to subject themselves to days of torturous drills and exercises for a chance at flying planes.

Reach for the Sky follows one group of young people as they suffer through never-ending runs and midnight push-ups to prove they are tough enough to hack it in the Air Force.

The film shows how a group of seemingly average high school graduates are molded into obedient soldiers, capable of enduring extreme physical pain.

The grueling path goes on for so long and is so difficult that the viewer realizes the true feat is not maintaining one's speed – it is continuing to move at all.