"Once I Was") is a 2010 Israeli drama film written, directed and produced by Avi Nesher, based on the novel When Heroes Fly by award-winning author Amir Gutfreund.

A special bond forms between Arik (played by Tuval Shafir), a 16-year-old boy, and Yaakov Bride (Adir Miller), a scarred matchmaker, bachelor, and Holocaust survivor.

Bride’s office is located in a passageway next to a movie theater owned by seven dwarves, all from the same Romanian family, who survived Auschwitz because Josef Mengele conducted experiments on them.

Tamara is also the rebellious and provocative cousin of Benny, Arik’s best friend (Tam Gal), which puts the boys’ friendship to the test.

Arik also becomes friends with Clara (Maya Dagan), a Holocaust survivor of Romanian descent, who works as a guide for Bride’s shy and inexperienced clients.

Though Bride and Clara are clever and cautious (and receive an early warning from Arik), and the police come up empty-handed, rumors begin to spread.