MAKSQUIBS CINEMATHEQUE: TEL AVIV ON FIRE (2018)

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Tuesday, December 5, 2023

TEL AVIV ON FIRE (2018)

It was the worst of times (with current events in Gaza); it was the best of times (boy, do we need it now!) for a charming/funny Palestinian/Israeli comedy. Set in the world of Ramallah Hollywood (Rollywood?) where a sort of Palestinian Tele-Novela is filming (I almost wrote shooting) in a small tv studio, its storyline set during the ‘Six-Day War’ of 1967, centered on an Arab Mata Hari type. Sticking his nose in where it doesn’t belong, the producer’s nephew (Kais Nashif, a skinny Richard Benjamin type with a permanent 5 o’clock shadow over his entire body) is on set for his idiomatic expertise in Hebrew. But, this being Rollywood, this 'Nepo' assistant really wants to write. Only problem, he’s actually got some good ideas and the leading lady insists he’s heard out. Only problem, on his drive home, he asks an Israeli checkpoint guard about using the word ‘explosive’ as a compliment for a woman and gets hauled out of his car as a possible terrorist. Brought in to Checkpoint Headquarters, he’s questioned by the Captain in charge. Only problem, the Captain’s wife loves the Rollywood ‘soaps’ and he also has some ideas to improve ‘Tel Aviv On Fire.’ Only problem, his ideas aren’t bad! Maybe a bit too pro-Israeli; the show soon being criticized on all fronts, within & without. Only problem, the viewers love the political complications & personal dilemmas popping up behind the romance & espionage. What’s next? Marriage between Palestinian vamp and Israeli General? Maybe not unacceptable if the bride keeps spying on her husband. Yikes! A second season renewal? And so on. Co-writer/director Sameh Zoabi keeps it all light on its feet; you expect it to go Dumb & Obvious, but he manages Smart & Obvious. No small achievement for a film farce. And thankfully, everyone in the cast has good timing. Something that probably can’t be said about watching this film at this moment.

DOUBLE-BILL/LINK: An inspiration for lighter themed Arab/Israeli films, THE BAND’S VISIT/’07 now looks too interested in parading goodwill & winning humanitarian awards whereas ON FIRE mostly just interested in generating laughs . . . and perhaps all the better for it. https://maksquibs.blogspot.com/2009/10/bikur-ha-tizmoret-bands-visit-2007.html

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Tuesday, December 5, 2023

TEL AVIV ON FIRE (2018)

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