Tag Archives: Israeli cinema

a controversial posterity (Film: Golda – Sagi Burnstein, Udi Nir, Shani Roznes, 2019)

The historical perception left behind by Golda Meir is very different in Israel and in the Jewish Diaspora. The Jews of the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe as well as those in the United States remember her as one … Continue reading

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Johnny English has a rival in the Mossad (Film: Mossad – Alon Gur Arye, 2019)

Everyone enjoys a good laugh, and the summer cinema season is optimal for comedies. It’s just the right time to watch a movie like “Mossad” written and directed by Alon Gur Arye, a parody in the genre of the “Naked … Continue reading

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a soap opera about a soap opera about the conflict (Film: Tel Aviv on Fire – Sameh Zoabi, 2018)

Making a film about the conflict between Israelis and the Palestinians (or, shortly, ‘the conflict’ as the locals call it) is probably almost as complicated as the peace talks between the two sides. Yet, scriptwriter and director Sameh Zoabi chose … Continue reading

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late debut, but it was worth waiting (Film: Bli Dam – Joe El Dror, 2018)

I do not know whether the debut as a feature films director at the age of 57 is a record, but I’m sure it’s a rarity. Yet, Joe El Dror is not a new name for the Israeli public, being … Continue reading

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synonyms or false friends? (Film: Synonyms – Nadav Lapid, 2019)

Nadav Lapid‘s talent as a director and scriptwriter is visible in the excellent scenes that open and conclude his movie ‘Synonyms‘ (‘Milim Nirdafot‘ in Hebrew) Which received the Golden Bear Award at the Berlin Film Festival. Yoav, the film’s hero, … Continue reading

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the shadows of the victory (documentary: Censored Voices – Amos Oz, 2015)

The Israeli writer Amos Oz, deceased at the end of 2018, was praised as one of his country’s and the world’s most important contemporary writers. His relationship with cinema is illustrated by quite a significant number of references on IMDB, … Continue reading

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uneven mix of genres (Film: Shelter – Eran Riklis, 2017)

The first film that I viewed in 2018 in a pre-screening before the Israeli premiere was Shelter (original title ‘Mistor’). It is directed by Eran Riklis, a director whose previous works The Syrian Bride and The Human Resources Manager I … Continue reading

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like a foxtrot (Film: Foxtrot – Samuel Maoz, 2017)

Not only that there is no such thing as bad advertising, but bad advertising can help a lot. The success (public, critics, festivals) of Samuel Maoz‘s second film ‘Foxtrot‘ may become at some point an example in the text books … Continue reading

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between two worlds (Film: In Between – Maysaloun Hamoud, 2016)

For once the English translation of the Hebrew title of this film was quite inspired. In Hebrew it was screened as ‘lo po, lo sham’ (not here, not there) and ‘In Between’ reflects even better the state of mind but … Continue reading

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between duty and love (Film: Lemale et ha’halal / Filling the void – Rama Burshtein, 2012)

Rama Burshtein‘s first feature film Lemale et ha’halal / Filling the Void was awarded the prize for the best Israeli movie in 2012 and yet, it belongs to a genre which is quite unique in the landscape of the Israeli … Continue reading

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