By Roger Costa
A TRAMWAY IN JERUSALEM
A woman sings a saddened song aboard a tramway crossing the Holy City through the night. A police officer confronts a few people whom he believes are Arabs. A boy holds tight to his father as they observe folkloric musicians practicing their rhythms. Soccer fans cheer up and shout their motivation towards a tournament; Orthodox students celebrate, dance, sing, praise and discuss philosophies and promises found in the Torah. Prolific Israeli filmmaker Amos Gitai returns with this blend of documentary and fiction revolving around several personalities riding the public transportation as it crosses the town.
Each encounter, circumstance and confrontation is tied up to the next with subtle lyricism and accuracy; Gitai explores topics relating to the history, magic and turbulence of the city, connecting the conversations to important political, social and religious aspects of the mixed culture and battles. Though many of these characters will quickly surge and disappear once they step down the locomotive, they leave impressive marks with their truthful statements, either those two female students asked for their documents, the rapper entertaining commuters or the aggressive couple dealing with an affair- their rapid appearances feel much bigger, permeating the narrative.
Matthieu Almaric riding with his son (a clear and personal representation of the filmmaker in front of the cameras), and a police officer investigating a possible terrorist threat, are the players constantly present throughout the film. Gitai also uses music as a main conductor, perhaps as the main subject: since the opening scene, music, sounds and rhythms and interconnected; the sound of the machinery, the streets seen through the windows and the music being performed on board; the film starts and finishes with a song, and music represents motivation, revelation and understanding as most situations are observed or generated by it. Winner of the UNIMED Award in Venice, it’s a beautifully crafted, humorous and insightful mosaic of a city divided by faith, tradition and politics.
(Screening as part of the 2019 New York Jewish Film Festival at Film Society of Lincoln Center on Saturday January 12 at 7 pm and Sunday January 13 at 3:45 pm. Director Amos Gitai will attend both sessions for Q&A.)
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