Dror Shaul - director of SWEET MUD

Recently I attended the opening gala and a few prominent movies of the 22nd annual Israeli Film Festival in Los Angeles (held from March 7th to 22nd 2007).

The festival moves to Miami from April 26th to May 3, 2007 and then off to New York city from June 6th to 21st, 2007. The Israeli Film Festival in it’s 22nd year is the brainchild of former Israeli rock musician and drummer Meir Feningstein. The opening gala ceremony in Los Angeles was held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel and was emceed by comedian Larry Miller. Lifetime achievement award was handed to Sony Pictures chairwoman Amy Pascal by comedian, actor and producer Adam Sandler. A new award was presented to Sacha Baron Cohen for achievement this past year – 2006 for BORAT. This awarded was presented to Sacha Baron Cohen by legendary actor Dustin Hoffman. The last award was presented to Israeli legendary actress Gila Almagor by the very beautiful and talented actress, singer and producer Noa Tishby.

Here are the films that I was able to see:

SALT OF THE EARTH

Director: Uri Barabash

This film is a gripping crime drama about four very different men who have one thing in common- they served in the Israeli military together. When one actor suffers a personal breakdown and becomes a gambling addict, they bind together to rob a Tel Aviv casino. The Israeli policeman on the case is played by Lior Ashkanazi and the gambling thief by Aki Avni. This is the Israeli homage to cinema classic HEAT and the pairing of De Niro vs. Pacino. Overall the film plays and is a bold achievement from Israeli director Barabash. Definitely has remake potential for Hollywood.

SWEET MUD

Director: Dror Shaul

This film was Israel’s submission to the Foreign Film Committee of the Academy Awards. Additionally, the film won a jury prize in Sundance and the Crystal Bear in Berlin in 2007. Additionally, the film was chosen as Israel’s Academy’s best film for 2006. The story is pseudo-autobiographical about kibbutznik Dror Shaul and his childhood. Whether all the elenets in the story are true or not, it’s an interesting window into the world of an Israeli kibuttz in the 1970’s and 80’s. The film received the above accolades for a reason and is well worth watching for those who get a chance to see it theatrically. A sure bet for DVD if and when available.

THINGS BEHIND THE SUN

Director: Yuval Shafferman

A compelling tale about a dysfunctional modern day Tel Aviv family with three children and two parents who have trouble communicating and connecting with each other. This becomes evident when father Izhik (played by Assi Dayan) struggles with his dying father in hospital and only his youngest daughter (a mistake that she was conceived) is the only one to visit her grandfather in this family. The mother is an artist, the eldest son a wasted pizza delivery boy and the middle daughter a lesbian grasping with her sexuality. An intesnse film that is interesting to look at Israeli life in modernity outside the context of Israeli military or security situation. Real life and real characters, perhaps depressing, but cinema verite’ Israeli style.

Here is the link to the Israeli Film Festival for 2007 if you’d like to check it out in Miami and in New York this year:

http://www.israelfilmfestival.com/iff07/

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