Ajami is a neighborhood in the Israeli city of
Jaffa, practically next door to Tel Aviv, though its population is
mostly Arab. It's a rowdy, seedy, rough neighborhood, like those all
over the world that provide a familiar setting for violent books and
movies. Ajami, almost a slum, has all the usual characters. Poverty is a
constant, unemployment is high, people will do anything to keep food on
the table. Of course, Ajami is not unique to Jaffa, or to Israel;
similar neighborhoods exist in cities throughout the world.
Jaffa, practically next door to Tel Aviv, though its population is
mostly Arab. It's a rowdy, seedy, rough neighborhood, like those all
over the world that provide a familiar setting for violent books and
movies. Ajami, almost a slum, has all the usual characters. Poverty is a
constant, unemployment is high, people will do anything to keep food on
the table. Of course, Ajami is not unique to Jaffa, or to Israel;
similar neighborhoods exist in cities throughout the world.
"Ajami," also is a
movie, opening today. An Israeli production that was a finalist for the
Foreign Language Academy Award a month ago, it's a gripping story of
disaffection and anger, but also of kindness and love, written, directed
and edited by Scandar Copti, an Israeli Arab, and Yaron Shani, an
Israeli Jew.
movie, opening today. An Israeli production that was a finalist for the
Foreign Language Academy Award a month ago, it's a gripping story of
disaffection and anger, but also of kindness and love, written, directed
and edited by Scandar Copti, an Israeli Arab, and Yaron Shani, an
Israeli Jew.
The movie, which
bounces around in time and place, involves a handful of people,. some
related, some not, acting and interacting in their daily lives. Malek's
(Ibrahim Frege) mother is ill, and he takes an illegal restaurant job to
help out. Dando (Evan Naim) is a policeman, which is a paying job, but
his brother is missing and he is distraught. Abu Elias (Youssef Sahwani)
is a successful restaurateur and businessman, an unofficial "mayor" of
the neighborhood who can help out with jobs and other support, though
too often with a catch. At the same time, however, his parental
authority is threatened because his daughter, Hadir (Ranin Karim), and a
sweet young man named Omar (Shahir Kabaha) love one another, and Omar
is of what Abu Elias considers a lower class.
bounces around in time and place, involves a handful of people,. some
related, some not, acting and interacting in their daily lives. Malek's
(Ibrahim Frege) mother is ill, and he takes an illegal restaurant job to
help out. Dando (Evan Naim) is a policeman, which is a paying job, but
his brother is missing and he is distraught. Abu Elias (Youssef Sahwani)
is a successful restaurateur and businessman, an unofficial "mayor" of
the neighborhood who can help out with jobs and other support, though
too often with a catch. At the same time, however, his parental
authority is threatened because his daughter, Hadir (Ranin Karim), and a
sweet young man named Omar (Shahir Kabaha) love one another, and Omar
is of what Abu Elias considers a lower class.
The film wraps a
little too neatly, but there is superior acting along the way and
several powerful, moving, very personal stories that will affect the
viewer long after the final credits roll.
little too neatly, but there is superior acting along the way and
several powerful, moving, very personal stories that will affect the
viewer long after the final credits roll.
Opens today at
the Plaza Frontenac
the Plaza Frontenac
–Joe