Tag Archives: Israeli cinema

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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elephants eating pastries (Film: Hunting Elephants – Israel, 2013)

The popular comedies mixed with Mediterranean melodramas got a name of their own in the Israeli cinema of the 70s: ‘bourekas movies’. ‘Bourekas’ are the local flavor of the Turkish pastries. The genre was dominant while the Israeli cinema was … Continue reading

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an Israeli exercise in ‘horror’ movies (Film: Big Bad Wolves – Israel, 2013)

I must launch one of my rants about film titles translations. Usually my complains are about translating English titles to Hebrew or my mother-tongue Romanian – now it’s about the reverse translation. This film is titled in Hebrew ‘Who’s afraid … Continue reading

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a too decent job (Film: Kirot – Danny Lerner, 2009)

Violent thrillers are yet a rather unexplored territory for the big screen Israeli cinema, and I really wonder why. The Israeli reality even if we put aside the political conflict is quite violent at least if one follows the news. … Continue reading

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