ilania_a

Yes is is but a Christmas movie, and quite romantic at that. Unlike most of the re-dos of classic Xmas stories, this one has an original plot. I would have given it a 10 as a Christmas movie, but the casting failed us.

Despite starting with a modelling session at the fire station by lead actor Brandon Routh (Superman Returns) he has a pleasant screen presence and captivates both man and woman right away. He is a modern super hero, fireman, animal lover and saviour of people anywhere, including a shopping centre parking lot. It is hard to hear such benign stories nowadays.

All the support actors, especially the firemen were well cast and acted. However, the lead female part was so miscast with Kimberly Sustad. We could not help wishing she would transform during the story and stop looking like his older sister. What a shame, Christmas Eve would have been perfect without her.

This was screened at the 34th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.

A unique documentary drama done with probably one of the lowest budgets ever, however, the actors were well cast, they look real! The location is a small super-market in (probably Tel-Aviv) Israel. It describes the drab daily life of people who work as cashiers and other menial jobs in a store.

The film touches on a few issues, such as: the plight of immigrants who have to accept any job in a new country; the trials and tribulations of a single mother; poor working conditions, and the shaky existence of people who work full-time for a small private business.

The coffee-break corner of the store serves as the place to bond and exchange, as well as offer support and encouragement between the workers. The supervisor (Nella) tackles the manager, fighting for the rights of her employees, while she herself has personal problems. The story is so real that at times the bleakness of these people's existence may cause depression. Is this what one is looking forward to as an immigrant?

Another touching factor is the tolerance, acceptance and support that these people offer each other, including encouraging a young man, not an immigrant, who has to come back to work at the store. There is a saying: "Each person has a world of his own", these few people live theirs in their own world of hardship, yet they survive!

The photography may have been well done, but the unattractive environment these people have to work in did not offer much in the way of scenery, thus there were some bothersome repetitions, as well as the loud "Store Specials" announcements. I personally think the film could have been shorter.

The film has immediately raised the question "Why would a man who has already lived in Israel, go back to a village with his two children who can never belong there, since they are from a mixed marriage?!" I would have understood it better if he came to rest a bit in his childhood home after a divorce, and to give his children an opportunity to meet their grandmother. The trip home was doomed from the beginning.

However, the film does reveal a bit about the daily life of the Druze people in Israel. These are people who practice their own secret religion, live in the country as full citizens, their young man serve in the military, and adults work with Israelis. Yet we do not have much chance of knowing more about their life. The scenes of the two male friends who meet after many years, the music and the dance movements were beautiful. The photography of the village built on the slopes of the mountain was great.

The acting was very good the main characters as well as the supporting roles, the youngsters in particular. I was impressed by Josef's Mother Afifa. The scene at the temple, from where she was asked to exit until her guests leave, was quite strong. Another touching moment was the daughter leaning on her grandmother and being consoled by her.