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| Movie Review: Ajami Alternate Title: Shared Guilt
Story: This film is an interesting
collaboration between Israeli directors and writers, Scandar
Copti (an Israeli Arab born and raised in Ajami) and Yaron
Shani (a Jewish Israeli). Yes, an Arab and a Jew are collaborating
to make art. That is a good thing.
Ajami is a neighborhood in Jaffa,
a town near Tel Aviv. It is populated by Muslims, Christians and Jews
with inherent conflict as an everyday occurrence. The film is divided
into five chapters, that, like the movie Crash, will ultimately
reveal all of the connections in the story. The film depicts
the divisions in class, religion and culture clearly, but does it in
an objective way. It, at times, seems like a documentary.
The film opens with a violent street occurrence that fuels the rest
of the film. We meet the innocent, the weary, the victims and the villains.
The endless cycle of tribal feuds, vendettas and retribution are a strain
throughout the film. The chapters are overlapping and occasionally we
see the same incident through another point of view.
The film is exhausting and demands your complete attention. The effort
is worth the payoff at the end.
Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h1cTPwWqtLA Acting: All of the actors, except director Scandar
Copti as Binj are not professionals. They actually live in
the town of Ajami. Shahir Kabaha as Omar was my favorite
character. Ibrahim Frege as Malek was terrific. Fouad
Habash as Nasri, Youssef, Sahwani as Abu Elias,
Ranin Karim as Hadir and Eran Naim
as Israeli policeman, Dando were all great.
Trivia: Palestinian filmmaker Scandar Copti
also plays its most empathetic character: Binj,
a likeable, long-bearded 21st century guy. This Israeli film, Ajami
was selected as one of the five nominees for the Best Foreign Language
Film Oscar. Ajami, which won a prize for Special Distinction in the
Camera d’Or competition for first-time filmmakers at Cannes.
Predilection: I like to see all of the Oscar nominated
films.
Critters: Chickens, pigeons and sheep
Sex Spectrum: None
Soundtrack: Duh - I cannot recall.
Opening Titles: An everyday street scene erupts in
sudden violence. After which comes the title of the film.
Theater Audience: About half a dozen other people
at the 12 o'clock showing. The next showing looked to be much more crowded.
Weather: Sunny
Sappy Factor: 0
Quirky Meter: 0
Squirm Scale: 0
Drift Factor: Attention must be paid throughout or
you will be lost.
Predictability Level: Moderate
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: Got an Oscar nomination for Best Foreign
Film
Big Screen or Rental: Either will do.
Length: Two hours.
LOBO HOWLS: 8
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