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A very fine example of 'Hyperlink Cinema'. Interlocking stories with overlapping character arcs in the same vein as Babel, Amorres Perros or Pulp Fiction. Ajami is slightly different in that it is a film with no comedy or relief, and is a tale of revenge, death, hatred, crime, religion and separation, set in a very real life like situation on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel.
Set in Israel, it depicts the lives of people that face suffering and violence every day, most of which is brought about by the very nature of the land in which they live. It's told in 4 separate chapters, each depicting a different storyline but with impact on the other 3. This was the Directors first ever feature and their only ever feature to date, so it's all the more remarkable that it's as accomplished as it is. The Jewish-Palestinian Directing team (Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani) itself mirrors some of the themes in the film. Namely Co-existence and religious difference.
The actors are mostly non professionals. Time and time again in these types of films we see stand out performances from inexperienced actors absolutely nail their parts like they do here. Maybe it's because they have some experience of the subject matter. Maybe it's because they are just being themselves. Maybe it's because the Director has a skill that brings the best out in them. Either way it worked.
Towards the end there is one part of the story that didn't fit. It felt too forced. Too deliberately placed to move the plot to where it needed to go. That's a small criticism in an otherwise fine movie though.
Other than the performances, the strength of this movie is not to be too preachy ("why can't we all get along and leave our differences behind us etc etc etc"), but instead it just tells us what is going on, and why there is so much pent up anger and hatred among the people that live in Tel Aviv. It offers no real solution to the problems. No conundrums or ambiguity. No moral dilemmas that we have to analyse after the credits roll. It just tells it like it is. Well worth watching this film though if you enjoy world cinema.
7.8/10
'Ajami' (2009)
Directed by Scandar Copti & Yaron Shani
Directed by Scandar Copti & Yaron Shani
A very fine example of 'Hyperlink Cinema'. Interlocking stories with overlapping character arcs in the same vein as Babel, Amorres Perros or Pulp Fiction. Ajami is slightly different in that it is a film with no comedy or relief, and is a tale of revenge, death, hatred, crime, religion and separation, set in a very real life like situation on the outskirts of Tel Aviv, Israel.
Set in Israel, it depicts the lives of people that face suffering and violence every day, most of which is brought about by the very nature of the land in which they live. It's told in 4 separate chapters, each depicting a different storyline but with impact on the other 3. This was the Directors first ever feature and their only ever feature to date, so it's all the more remarkable that it's as accomplished as it is. The Jewish-Palestinian Directing team (Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani) itself mirrors some of the themes in the film. Namely Co-existence and religious difference.
The actors are mostly non professionals. Time and time again in these types of films we see stand out performances from inexperienced actors absolutely nail their parts like they do here. Maybe it's because they have some experience of the subject matter. Maybe it's because they are just being themselves. Maybe it's because the Director has a skill that brings the best out in them. Either way it worked.
Towards the end there is one part of the story that didn't fit. It felt too forced. Too deliberately placed to move the plot to where it needed to go. That's a small criticism in an otherwise fine movie though.
Other than the performances, the strength of this movie is not to be too preachy ("why can't we all get along and leave our differences behind us etc etc etc"), but instead it just tells us what is going on, and why there is so much pent up anger and hatred among the people that live in Tel Aviv. It offers no real solution to the problems. No conundrums or ambiguity. No moral dilemmas that we have to analyse after the credits roll. It just tells it like it is. Well worth watching this film though if you enjoy world cinema.
7.8/10