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Showing posts with label Hebrew. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hebrew. Show all posts

Monday, October 30, 2017

One Week and a Day (2016) Israel

Losing the loved one and getting lost in the life.






Original title:
Shavua ve Yom (Hebrew)


Genre:
Comedy, Drama.


Length:
Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     The plot says it is a serious subject, but the film was fun. Not fun as you would laugh out loud, though that's how the characters behaves. As seen the whole film, I thought it was similar to the 'Sweet Bean'. Not thematically, but the characteristically. They did not balance on that, because clearly that was not an intention. It's only I saw that, which should have been explored much better possible way.

     You might wonder what is that! Actually, it was three generations. A kid, a young man and a pretty close to be an old man. But it was that old man's tale. That's how it all begins and ends too. He had lost his son and now it is a week of mourning time. At the end of the formal, that's where our tale begins by avoiding the emotional parts. A good initiation.

     Seems he is approaching a different tactic to cope with the loss. Suddenly his behaviour has changed. Not being polite with everyone around him, particularly his neighbour couple with a reason. But their young son joins him, together they set to break the rules and do some crazy stuffs. At the last moment, a kid joins them and it all turns out their greatest day of adventure. All the fun has an ending, so how does it concludes was told with a little dramatic.

 The fact that you can't see it does not mean it does not exist. You're just not open minded enough. 

     I have seen many films about coping with the deaths. Some of them were unique, some were not. This was a familiar one, except all the events were set in a different atmosphere, like culture and society. It is people's nature, tend to do opposite when they are not ready for it or forced to do. This father did not intentionally took that alternative route. It was a chain of events, he just sailed from one to another, only to realise where and how far he had come.

     More or less, like a self-discovery. Rediscovering the life to live for. Some time emotions take us to unexpected destinations. But once it was released, the reality eyes open, to look forward in the remaining life. So this film was not an ideal film for everybody who are in the same situation. But it gives a different opinion. I liked the actors, all the main ones. The music was so good. It was one of the main ingredients of the film, made everything look better. Particularly in the transition sections between the events and the characters.

     Don't remember what was my last Hebrew film, but it was a good one, had a nice time. The developments, how the plots were extended is not going to satisfy all who watches the film. Because some viewers might expect a totally fun, with or without logic. But some look for the value it teaches, morale, message et cetera. Frankly, this film was none of those. But it was also all of those with less highlighting them. Better than the average, and below the awesomeness, surely a worthy film that some people would find it good.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
World's Greatest Dada, The Son's Room, The Water Diviner, Collateral Beauty.


External link(s):



WCA geolocation:
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Thursday, October 6, 2016

Baba Joon (2015) Israel

Some farmers are not born farmers, they're made.






Genre:
Drama.


Length:
Approximately 6-minute read.


Review:
     The last Israel film I saw, I did not like much, but this time it is opposite. I liked this theme, about the farmers who are the feeders of the world and they're declining. But this film is not here to discuss about that topic, just a different angle tale like three different generations of the same family and theirs take on the family business, that means farming. It is every parent's duty to support their children, particularly if their kids shows more interest in something, they must not discourage it. This is a lovely film, especially coming from the Israel, because the film might be made in Israel, but its about the different ethnic people and the message was very bold.

     This is a story of an Iranian farmer family of a young boy with his two parents and a grandfather living in the rural Israel. The father and boy has lots of differences, like the father is trying to build a future by extending his turkey farm for the boy. But the kid is different, he does not want to take over it, that's the right time his uncle arrives from the United States. Seems he's going to stay for a while, despite he's the one who escaped from this life for a better one. Meanwhile, he spots his nephew's talent and gives a full support, but the father and his father's insistence, the family loses its strength. So the rest of the narration is to focus whether the family patches their differences and fall back to happily ever after or if not, then what's going to happen.

     A very inspiring film. The narration was not focused from one character, but kind of neutral. Sometimes, it was from the father's eye like how hard he works for his family. He was into farming because of no choice left after his brother abandoned him years back. Now his son is in the same battle as his brother was. Since he's the only child, he has no other option like his father. The rural kids too can dream big, but what this kid is interested in is merely a hobby in the eyes of his father. That's where the uncle comes in. If you ever had an uncle, probably most of you would know what I meant. Because I too was encouraged by mine. So I do understand what this boy is fighting for.

 If you bend a branch too hard, it breaks. 

     Since it is a foreign film, I don't know anybody from this. Probably they're new faces, but theirs character executions were phenomenal. Everybody, all the main cast was so impressive. The credit must also go to the director who also wrote the screenplay. It was Israel's official entry for the 88th American Academy Awards in the best foreign film category, but did not make into the final five. Recently I have been watching some good rural based films and this is another great addition to my collection. This is not a masterpiece and we know that, but still there's a lot of reason why one should watch it.

     I feel this kind of themes need a serious uplift by the viewers, because what this film revealed was not like any city based film with the plot that revolve around crime, thriller, mystery, but a pure drama. Being a farmer or born in a farmer family, what life they inherit, especially the question of how much they would be happy doing farming for their rest of the life. In urban, people change their professional field often, but that's not an option here for them. You can call this the Israel's 'October Sky', but the story lacked to concentrate more on the kid. Because they wanted a clean balance between all the film characters and also the message to deliver in a striking way. So the filmmakers did their best and also the actors, that's why the film received very well.

     Not just for the children, but a good family film. In fact a film for everybody, I definitely suggest it. But there are some flaws like I know these days kids are very curious about learning new things, particularly in a practical way like tools in the hands. Though how this boy developed his skills remains a question. I mean hailing from a rural where he has less resources like you can say the books about his interested field or anyone who are in that field to inspire him or assist him. Initially we know that he's up to something, but then in a few minutes later he already mastered it. This is not a big deal, particularly in the films, so it does not affect to enjoy it or what it tells the society. There are many good reasons to watch this than to neglect it for its minor flaws. So I hope you watch it.



Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


Similar movies:
Wetlands, Rams, The Auction, That Evening Sun, Sunset Song, An Unfinished Life.


External link(s):
    


WCA geolocation:
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Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Big Bad Wolves (2013) Israel

Wolves in a pack hunting for a beast-sheep.





Genre:
Crime, Thriller.


Tagline:
"Some men are created evil."


Original title:
Mi Mefahed Mezeev Hara (Hebrew)


What's in:
On-topic, Off-topic, Spoilers, Dialogues.


Length:
Approximately 4-minute read.


Review:
     The first thing I remembered was, 'Save the Green Planet', but it was a crime-thriller, not a fantasy-sci-fi. Tough guys in the leather jackets, guns in the one hand and cigars in the other, that's what I imagined when Tarantino favoured it. But this film was slightly not an aggressive like too violent. The screenplay was disturbed frequently when it begins to engage on the nervous side. Hence it makes you say 'just missed', sometime disappointedly. Anyway, no one told me it was a dark comedy, I took it as a surprise and somewhat enjoyed it.

     It was on the serious subject, but not the presentation. Keeps everything lightly, especially conceals the dark side of truth for the final twist. For us, as the viewers, the prediction is two ways, either 'he did' it or 'he didn't' like taking a side. Film length was good with a moderate pace. There's no place for the characters to unroll with the proper introductions, including not even the opening event on which the whole film stands. From the beginning itself the writer wanted to save it for the final revelation. That's not smart, that's afraid of leaving hints.

 Maniacs are afraid of maniacs.

      Kind of similar to Hollywood's 'Prisoners'. Well, almost matches, except the characters and places. A good movie, but not that good. Well attempted, I am sure many would love this film. The narration is about kidnapping a guy on the suspicion of crime for a secret interrogation. It hauls in the remaining till advance to the crucial end part. In the mean time, the torturing techniques and the suspense hold our position.

     Because of Tarantino's nod, it's an easy 'go for it', well, mostly for his fanbase. I say consider it and decide yourself after the watch, don't believe, not even me. To me it was the great opportunity missed to dominate, especially having a powerful title and theme. Still, I don't reckon it is a bad or worst movie, but surely one of the year's top 50 or maybe 25.

     The movie was as I thought. The story and my anticipation were on the parallel track aiming the same direction. At least I was occupied, but the issue was, it did not go above my expectation to surprise me with some interesting elements. It flunks, like trying to fill the new wine in an old bottle with the old label and description in it. Stylish, but attempted to be too clever was the let down by the slimmest margin. On the other hand, as coming from the Israeli, it is exceptional.



Similar movies:
The Hunt, Devil's Knot, Prisoners, Save the Green Planet, Gone Baby Gone.


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent


External link(s):
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Saturday, April 12, 2014

When Pigs Have Wings (2011) France

A trouble that never stops chasing you.



Comedy

Review:
     An English-Arabic-Hebrew language movie from a debuntant French director which unfolds the story of an unwealthy Gazan and his incredible adventure. The most sensitive issue was told in very enjoyable comical style, it might be Israel and Palestine or Islam-Jewish and pig. One of a rare movie, which was smartly made and will be better than you expect.

     The story of a poor fisherman from Gaza who end of having a pig in his net during fishing. The animal is a bad omen according to his religion which forbids to sight. He takes advice from his friend who instruct to kill it, but for his soft-heartedness he let it live. Soon on later everyone around him going to find it so he need to send it from where it came. Those adventures become our great entertainment throughout.

     Like I said very interesting material used for this story with gentle characters. The opening is undoubtedly sweeps our attention completely with fine character and story developments. But in the middle kind of little muddles without much happening in the story, more like everything were paused at once. And again hurried last portion hits like a lightening pace till the end.

     As per the final scene a sequel can be expected. I will be happy if the director had a plan for that because the character Jafaar is the reason. Kind of Wes Anderson style presentation, I said a little especially on the humorous side. A good movie to choose for purely entertainment purpose for its diverged elements.



Similar movies:
Moonrise Kingdom, Dan in Real Life, The Royal Tenebaums, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Borat


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

When Pigs Have Wings (2011) on IMDb


  • Tween: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teen: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adult: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece

Friday, January 10, 2014

Zaytoun (2012) Israel

Inside the enemy line a different outlook of an enemy.



Adventure | Drama | Thriller | War

Review:
     Well intended small storied movie with backdrop of war between Israel and Lebanon. Well cast and shot in exotic places. From the Hollywood actor of 'Brake' fame and the director of 'Lemon Tree' joined hands together for this project. A couple of years ago I saw 'Lemon Tree', this director is really a master rendering movies with complicated theme. From characters to concept and emotions it was well balanced. The second half is what gives more depth in human emotions than the conflict between two people. Definitely it is not a masterpiece, but where it takes place and what it deals were much reasonable to praise.

     It is set in 1982 in war torn Lebanon. An Israeli pilot Yoni, who crash land in Beirut is taken captive by Palestine Liberation Organization. There he meets a 12 year old boy Fahed whose father was recently killed in an Israeli air strike. He knows that he's not him, but the boy raged with full of anger to take revenge. For the reason he must give up it and should cope with the prisoner to fulfil his father's wish. So they make a deal before teaming up and try to escape from there. The rest of the story is a journey that happens on the road to their freedom.

     The title represents an olive plant that carried all the time by the boy in the movie. As it an Arabic title of an Israeli movie, various languages spoken throughout. For me everything was just same because I was depended on a subtitle. The movie won my heart for the reason that the main two characters considered as enemies to each other, but the time being they begin to understand. Theirs journey on a dangerous path against all the human created boundary was really touched me. Better than I expected, kinda partially rare movie should be recognised in vastly.



Similar movies:
Where do we go Now?, Lemon Tree, The Syrian Bridge


Suitable for:
Tween, Teen, Adult, All


Final verdict:
Ignore, Bad, Average, Good, Excellent

Zaytoun (2012) on IMDb


  • Tween: From age between 7 to 12
  • Teen: From age between 13 to 19
  • Adult: From age above 20
  • Ignore: Not worth watching
  • Bad: Not good but watchable
  • Average: 50-50, choice is always yours
  • Good: great certainly not masterpiece
  • Excellent: A must see, Masterpiece