IV Festival of Israeli Cinema in Russia
Peter Hanson
 Catch the IV Israeli Film Festival from the 21-23rd of November, at the Dom Aktera. Six new films will be shown, all winners of various international film awards. These films show are not ‘art house’ productions, but successful box office hits.
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The timetable is as follows:
21/11, 19:00 – by invitations only (opening film).
22/11, 18.00 and 20.00
23/11, 18.00 and 20.00
Telephone for further details 230 6799
Tickets are free. |
The Israeli film industry is doing quite well these days. An average of 14 feature films, 100 hours of documentary films, are made each year in Israel, double the figures of 5 years ago. ‘Turn left in the End of the World’, for example was the second largest box office taker in 2004, more successful than mega blockbusters and cultural crusaders like Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings. The film depicts life in a small town, hidden away in the Negev desert, which becomes a battle ground between immigrants from Morocco and India. The story is told by the friendship of two nubile girls who become friends, very close friends, and in this way cultural clashes between two opposing communities are personalized. The desert shots are great, and there are great period situational shots from the 1970’s.
The film ‘Light’ directed by Keren Edair dwells on difficulties in the mother/daughter relationship on the background of contemporary Tel Aviv. This film won the prize ‘Golden Camera’ prize at Cannes 2004.
In ‘To Take a Wife’, Actress Ronit Alkabets plays a woman who tries to change her life abruptly and find love. For this role, Ronit won a prize for the best female role in the Jerusalem film festival in 2004. The Israeli version of the comedy ‘Four Marriages and a Funeral’, called ‘Columbian Love’ will also be shown, directed by Shai Kanot. ‘Syrian Bride’, tells the story of Mona, a young Israeli bride, who has to make the journey from Israel to Syria so as to get married to Talelia, a Syrian TV star. Mona has to adopt Syrian citizenship and part with her family. This film was announced best film at Monreal (2004).
The last film which is part of the festival, ‘Stars of Shlomi’, enjoyed huge success in Israel. The film is a comedy, but also a tragedy, in which the hero of the film finds himself in ‘true’ love.
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