ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL 2010 – PREVIEW
CONFLICTS OLD AND NEW IN ISRAELI FILM FESTIVAL
Culture clash and conflicts of living in a tight, multi-layered community
dominate the themes at this year’s event.
The 7th annual AICE Israeli Film Festival (Melbourne, 17-22 August, Sydney, 31
Aug–5 Sept. at select Palace cinema locations) will open with the Oscar
nominated Ajami, which highlights the many levels of conflict in Israel via a
series of five, inter-related chapters set amidst the explosive Jaffa
neighbourhood of the same name.
“I’m thrilled with our 2010 Festival line-up,” said Festival founder Albert
Dadon, “particularly as it highlights the creative richness of Israel’s film
industry. Israeli cinema has come a long way in recent years, garnering the
respect of Europe’s cinema
community, which is evident in the many international co-productions we’ve
programmed. I’m thoroughly delighted to be able to screen these films to
Australian audiences and proud that we’re able to do so.”
Ajami, the multi-award winning Israeli/German co-production, which took top
honours in five major categories (including Best Film) at the 2009 Israeli
Academy Awards, as well as a 2010 Oscar nomination for Best Foreign Language
Film, will screen on opening night in both cities.
"cultural clashes as well as exploring life"
Many of the films in this year’s Festival examine cultural clashes as well as
exploring life amongst Israel’s ultra-orthodox as they strive to exist alongside
contemporary Western society. One such film, which generated much controversy at
the Israeli box office, is Eyes Wide Open, an Israeli/French/German
co-production that explores homosexuality amidst Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox
community. The ‘Haredim’ trilogy of documentaries which include Gevald!, The
Rabbi’s Daughter & The Midwife and Religion.Com also look at how progress has
impacted upon Israel’s more devout citizens.
21st century life and its complexities are brought to the fore with Phobidilia
and A Matter Of Size. Visually inventive and mesmerizing, Phobidilia introduces
us to a man who has discovered that in today’s world, all of his needs can be
met without leaving his apartment.
Modern society’s fixation with the ‘body beautiful’ gets a fresh take in A
Matter Of Size, an endearing comedy about a 160 kilo chef, whose life is a
series of diets and fitness regimes – until he and his equally Rubenesque
buddies discover the world of Sumo wrestling, where flab is fab!
"international actors"
The Festival also has its share of international actors including Olga
Kurylenko, the latest Bond femme fatale from Quantum Of Solace who stars in
Walls, and Joseph Fiennes who leads a stellar cast in Spring 1941, a sweeping
family drama set amidst the turbulent days of WW II, the first co-production
between Israel and Poland.
Also revisiting the Holocaust is the stunning feature-length documentary the
Israeli/German coproduction, A Film Unfinished, which reveals a 70-year-old lie.
The recipient of Awards at Toronto, Sundance and Silverdocs, this startling film
looks at how the Nazi propaganda machine manipulated camera crews to depict
supposedly ‘everyday scenes’ of life in the infamous Warsaw Ghetto.
Published July 22, 2010
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Phobidilia
Ajami
A Matter of Size
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