Created by Sayed Kashua, a 32-year-old Israeli-born Palestinian journalist, Arab Labor (translated from the Hebrew “Avoda Aravit” which colloquially implies second-rate work) focuses on Amjad, a Palestinian journalist and Israeli citizen in search of his identity as he seeks high status in the society into which he was born but where his car is searched everyday when he drives from his neighborhood to his job at a newspaper in Jerusalem.
Episode 10: Everyone wants to make a quick buck, but is the delivery room really the place to do so? When a known millionaire declares that he will award a million Israeli shekels to the first baby that is born on Independence Day, Bushra and Amjad compete with the Chen couple on who will give birth first.
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An enchanting comedy about the adventure of a Jewish professor, an Arab sanitation worker, and a young Italian nun, who discover a utterly surprising similarity in their uncommon interests. At first they find themselves at odds, but then decide to work together to rebuild a statue important to Tel Aviv. The Flying Camel is a celebration of the differences that make everyone unique, and the bonds that can be made when we accept each others’ differences.
A dark comedy chronicling the trials and tribulations of a small circus troupe who visit the West Bank. When a lion escapes the camp, an unlikely alliance is forged between Russian lion tamer Mariana (Evgenia Dudina), Israeli Sergeant Bleiberg (Yoram Hatav), and a young Arab boy (Yousef Ibrahim), who join forces in a effort to find the beast before it can injure any unsuspecting townspeople. A charming, subtle, and politically astute comedy with more than enough heart to compensate for its low production values.
The inspirational and humorous non-fiction account of a remarkable man and his remarkable life. Ami Ankilewitz was diagnosed with an extremely rare and often fatal form of spinal muscular atrophy (type 2) that severely limits physical growth and movement. Yet at thirty-four years of age, he continues to outlive a doctor’s prediction of life expectancy by twenty-eight years…and counting. Ami, who weighs only thirty-nine pounds, works in Israel as a 3D animator and creates his art despite the fact that his bodily motion is limited to a single finger on his left hand. In doing so, he continues to redefine notions of a “limited” life. The film follows Ami’s journey in search of the doctor who predicted his early demise. Along the way, Ami attempts to come to terms with another major incident from his past and to complete a lifelong dream: to ride a Harley-Davidson across America.
Set during the 1982 invasion of Lebanon, Cup Final tells the story of Cohen, a young Israeli soldier who is kidnapped by a group of Palestinian fighters and held hostage during the conflict. The 1982 FIFA World Cup happens to be on during the invasion, and captor and captive’s mutual love of football (and support for the Italian team), helps break down the barriers of nationalism and historical baggage.
This charming, entertaining film, full of warm humor and sentiment, swept the recent Israeli Awards in almost every category. Three parallel stories of love unfold in Israel during the Gulf War with Iraq, as the people retreat into their homes and shelters to avoid the lethal scud attacks. Yana, a Russian immigrant abandoned by her husband, is pregnant and in debt, but when she moves into a flat with wedding photographer Eli and the two are forced into a sealed room from the fear of chemical weapons, sparks fly. At the same time, formal and businesslike Rosa finds love, while Alik and his wife learn the meaning of loving commitment and transform each other into better people.
Mona’s wedding day is slated to be one of the saddest days of her life. She knows that once she crosses the border between Israel and Syria to marry Syrian TV star Tallel, a man she has never even met, she will never be allowed back to her family in Majdal Shams, a Druze village in the Golan Heights. Her family must also contend with the clash between the traditional and the new, as Mona’s various family members unites to see her off. The Syrian Bride is a story about physical, mental and emotional borders, and the strength and will to cross them.
This film is much more than just a beach movie; it depicts the struggle of individuals who are not ready to change and grow up. Gute (Uri Zohar) is an aging lifeguard, responsible for the Tel Aviv beach. With a few other eccentric characters, including his best friend Eli, he lives his life with no great goals or meaning. Pretty soon, he’ll get slapped by his superior, rejected by a beach hussy, and ridiculed by a couple of teenagers and a beloved whore. Only then will he understand that the world is moving on, with or without him.
