By Roger Costa
TEL AVIV ON FIRE
Extremely irreverent and brilliantly cynical, Palestinian director Sameh Zoabi’s romcom is a delightful and smart look at the never-ending conflicts among Jews and Arabs. Very fluent in Hebrew, a Palestinian man is hired by his uncle to work on a popular TV Show as a dialogue consultant; a misunderstanding leads him to the office of the border’s general who is a fan of the show and imposes his ideas on it. Forcing the “writer” to intervene in the love story played on TV to satisfy his wife and his ego, the general becomes the representation of government manipulation, while the gruesome story (and love triangle) of the TV show easily grabs everyone’s attention. As the general will do anything to conquer his wife’s respect back, the now promoted to “writer” unsettled man is putting up efforts to get the girl of his dreams, a grocery shop’s worker (played by the efficient Maisa Abd Elhadi). The confusions won’t stop, as the foreign actress (Belgian sensation Lubna Azabal) who’s hired to play the main part in the TV Show also wants to change aspects of her character, leading everyone in the production to different paths and opinions. In the meantime, the general’s orders for the show’s script become the center of attention nationwide as everyone is glued to the TV. Utterly funny and timely, Zoabi addresses manipulation, censorship and freedom of speech through the refreshing story of a man trying to overcome failures and to impress the people he cares about. Winner of major prizes at Venice including Best Film and Best Actor, it’s certainly among this year’s best comedies. (Cohen Media Group. 8/2. Quad Cinema and Landmark at 57 West.)
THIS IS NOT BERLIN
Two teen friends find opportunity and influence to shape themselves as rebels and bohemians during the social and political transformations of 1986 Mexico’s World Cup. Prolific director Hari Sama’s latest project is an audacious, bold and raw look at the experiences of these kids growing up free despite the indispensable obstacles and uncertain future. Friends engaged in a fight club, and partners on the clandestine business done inside school, they find a place to develop their desires and aspirations making their own way into a nightclub filled with artists, painters, singers, writers. They are rapidly seduced by their practices, orgies, heavy drugs consumption, and metaphorical public protests (they march naked with only names written on their bodies, as a characterization of slavery), becoming important keys to the group with their talents. Transcendental and visually psychedelic, sometimes with reminiscences of “Y Tu Mama Tambien”, Sama follows the reactions and perspectives with these kids with gripping intensity. It resurrects the feeling of being young and irresponsible, just living day by day, enjoying and experiencing the earthly pleasures, with satisfying results and accuracy. He also examines family ties such as the thoughtful conversations between a son and his separated parents, the influence of an older sister, and other key figures. An acclaimed selection at both Sundance and Tribeca, where the film was nominated for the Top Award, it’s a courageous, provocative and fearless coming of age story. (Samuel Goldwyn Films. 8/9. IFC Center.)
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