The movie traces a hundred years or so in the life of a Yemenite-Israeli family. It centers on a favorite cliché anachronism, a free-spirited woman who successfully makes her own place by challenging the paternalistic social order of her times. No one dwells on the cliché, though. In fact, no one dwells much on anything. There is no time for subtle characterization, but the actors work confidently, at least to the extent that their command of English allows. The film's funding came from an American benefactor, and filming in English was a requirement although the cast is Israeli. Forty years ago they would have dubbed the voices. The problem of language can't ruin the visual side, which is very nicely handled although I think maybe the everyday peasant costumes were a mite too colorful. Surprisingly, almost no one in Israel bothered to come see this movie. Maybe they didn't like to see their nation's pre-history portrayed in such clichéd romantic terms, or maybe the language discordance was a game-killer. But I can see the movie appealing to English-speaking women who like historical dramas... if the marketers could reach them.
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Nozz25 July 2014
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Cantstopwontstopwhystop22 August 2022First of all i wantted to love this movie . It could of been amazing. Here are my issues .
The biggest issue is the auther or directors hate of askanazim . They act like religus jews in late 1800s wouldnt of seen a mizrachi or habbani jew in jeruslem when they were majorty at time at kotel ... the fact they would try to keep a jew who recited shama from praying is obseen . Yes there was discscrimation but this is crazy ... there are several other anti askansizi bits also .
Acting felt like a halmark movie . A few of the actors did great but majority felt forced .
The basic plot is never expalined . At begining an arab man comes and tells ladys great grandoughter story of her life . But hes not even in story. Makes zero sences .
There are other issues with sets having objects well out of date . Theses could of easly been fixed by hiring someone cheeply to photoshop out .
This could of been great if a few things were done diffrently .... soprry english not first launage.