Zero Motivation

So when I saw the movie's summary about a group of women being pencil pushers in the Israeli army, I was expecting something far different.

My perception (which I got from movies) of the Israeli army is that every one who comes out of it seems to be real bad ass. This movie contradicts that, completely.

The movie tells three different stories about different types of women in the army. A story of a woman who wants to be in command, a woman looking for a nice job in a nice place, and a woman who can't wait for her service to end.

What I enjoyed most was how the filmmakers were able to construct characters who you can connect with. I can't put my finger on how it was done but I came out of this caring for the out come of all of them. Maybe it was a combination of the writing and the acting, or how the movie was edited to focus on the main characters and tell their stories. Whatever it was, it truly worked.

Not knowing much about military service in Israel, I will assume the picture is displaying the emotion of what it's like to do it. From trying to play the male dominated game to just trying to get by.

Overall, I was very impressed by it.

Some elements of the movie are quite unbelievable, but the movie is clever enough to approach them gradually and only after achieving buy-in from the audience. What with the delicate balance of comedy and drama, when the girls start duelling with staple guns you truly aren't sure whether somebody's going to get terribly hurt or not. I've never been a fan of Dana Ivgy, sullen and sulky as she always looks, but the role here fits her; and it's a nice script, divided into ostensibly separate chapters but surprising the audience with links between them and not ending before even the shrewish valkyrie of a desk officer has been vouchsafed a moment of sympathy from the audience. If Nat Hiken were alive, I think he and his creation Sergeant Bilko would approve.

This is a lovely coming-of-age movie about very young women coping with their impossibly dull military service in the Israeli army. The film is very funny with a lot of attention to detail (the officers routinely meet in front of a map marked "Palestine"). The sound track is simple but beautifully put into the context of the movie. The camera work is very low key, and very reminiscent of early Israeli movies in its style. Its not a political movie but it does give a genuine insight into how many young Israeli women experience their military service. As a footnote I will say that I saw it in Tel Aviv, the theatre was packed and as the movie started there was a siren and the whole audience had to shuffle into the exit tunnels. After a few minutes (and having heard the explosion of a missile being intercepted nearby), we went back to our seats and the movie restarted.

A group of army administrators live their dreary days on a quiet military base.

It's hard to define this movie, it's like MASH but with administration. Or like The Office in the army. It's enjoyable, but sometimes it jumps too quickly between fun and pure darkness of time. It's a unique movie that is worth checking out if you want to avoid more mainstream titles. Just watch out, the nudity comes form nowhere, and so do some other darker surprises.

I was ready for some comedy and the Israeli movie "Zero Motivation" way exceed my expectation. In addition to a great script, with a well- organized and tightly structured plot, it is filled with black comedy, feminism, friendship, and work ethics wrapped with a little nudity and horror, all done with a limited budget. The acting are very good too.

The movie was divided into three parts which are linked together by two central characters, Daffi (Nelly Tagar) and Zohar (Dana Ivgy), both young female soldiers working in the administration department of a military base in the middle of the dessert. They are among a group of equally demotivated female colleagues supervised by ambitious but frustrated Captain Rama (Shani Klein), the only female officer in the management team.

The film starts with good friends Daffi and Zohar reluctantly return to base after a short break. Daffi, a clerical worker in charge of paper and the shredder, is tired of being stuck in the dessert and wants to be transferred to Tel Aviv. She seeks help from Zohar who is responsible for mail and trusts her in mailing letters for her transfer. Comedy erupts when a new comer Tehila (Yonit Tobi) enters the camp and Daffi treats her as her replacement until something tragic happens.

In the second part, Zohar is obsessed about losing her virginity but she exercises her independent thinking and receives help from a fellow colleague who asserts the female ego.

It is the third part that ties all the loose ends from part one and two and we see more comedy, irony and creative action. Then everything ends in a reasonable and interesting wrap up.

I would not divulge too much plot as it will spoil the fun. But I can guarantee that it is packed with jokes and laughter while making you think about the absurdity and blessing in life, while pondering on gender roles.

Perhaps the only short coming is the military setting which is hard for most international audience to identify with. But the issues of office management, friendship and courtship are universal across industry and culture. Most importantly, the voice of female power is strong. Highly recommended.