I saw The Center at a preview, with remarks from the filmmakers, and I'll start with a complaint that came from the audience. The now-iconic Dizengoff Center shopping mall stands on formerly Arab-owned land, the owner fled in 1948, and the film doesn't bother mentioning that the war of 1948 was by no means Israel's fault. In response to the complaint, the filmmakers said they didn't intend any political statement. But they go on to remark that although the owner tried to receive compensation, he never did-- and since Israel normally has no problem compensating owners of confiscated property, I have a feeling there's probably an unstated side to that story too.
Anyway, the filmmakers say that out of the wealth of cinematic possibilities, they've put together a star-shaped film. It goes off in one direction, returns to its crux, goes off in another direction, returns again and so on. The planners and architects, the relocated former residents, the people for whom the Center is a meeting place, etc.
Along the way, the film presents some beautiful images and some intriguing stories. One paradox is that whereas the mall began as an exception, on a gigantic scale, to the whole traditional vibe of Tel Aviv, it has aged into a symbol of familiarity among the newness that has come along since. Much like the Eiffel Tower, I guess.
The film was four years in the making, I had the enviable experience of watching the movie at the very mall it describes, and I noticed that even some of the "present-day" mall shown in the movie had changed dramatically since being filmed. Life goes by so fast, there should be more films like this.
