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Winner of 9 Israeli Film Academy Awards
"Orly Zilbershatz-Banai stars as Dafna, a mother struggling to keep her family aflo0at after the sudden death of their beloved father. Foreced into a role of surrogate mother to her two youngest siblings, Ido and Bahr, budding songwriter Maya grudgingly tackles domestic chores and struggles to finish her education. Her more philosophical brother, Yair, declares that life is meaningless. To prove his point, he quits high school and takes a job distributing pamphlets on the metro dressed as a giant mouse. Could life become more absurd? When a terrible event strikes once again, only a miracle can save them - a miracle born of love" [dvd cover blurb] dvd review
Living in Belfast, and being asked on occasion to write about Northern Irish film, I'm always struck by how narrow-minded our artists seem to be, allowing the violence of the last few decades pervade everything. And yet, Israel has suffered similar problems, but by avoiding those issues, and making a film which is primarily about growing-up, and relationships, about everyday life, it gains a global audience. The language barrier aside (taken care of by English subtitles), these are issues that could affect us all. The resulting film, is a moving blend of drama, humour and intelligent thought. The break-down of the family unit, as the young Maya attempts to break it into the music business, only to neglect her commitment to the art owing to family obligations. We can't help but feel frustrated for her, as we watch her chance to escape and make something of herself, drift away. The little brother's obsession with a camcorder, and filming himself jumping from the edge of an abandoned swimming pool, betrays a love affair with attention, and movement, shared by the rest of the family. Maya wants to sing, and write music, her other brother performs constantly, dressed up as a mouse for the most part, and then exhibiting his naked form in the windows of the empty school with a former girlfriend. Performance seems central, with Dafna maintaining the image of a dutiful mother, but one who in reality has never learned to cope with the death of her husband. The interplay between the characters is charmingly inviting. Each of them seeking escape from the rest, but ultimately bound by blood. Maya is a stunning performer with much promise - indeed it is difficult to see a better cast in this film. Watch out for her emotional scenes in the recording booth. Don't be surprised if this one gets remade in the States some day. The surreal image of Yair in a mouse suit, is almost enough to drag us back to reality - almost, but not quite enough. He is a surreal being in a real world, but his artifice in the film, which is itself aritifice, arguably makes him the most real thing in the film. Engaging. transfer extras Previews RJES |
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DISC: Feature length: 84
mins SPECIAL FEATURES: see left for full details |
Kult UK 09th August 2004
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