The film is wonderful. Writing-wise, everything happens for a reason and foreshadows something else, like a good Seinfeld episodes, yet nothing is predictable. The acting is very believable. The direction and cinematography update the classic Armed Farces tropes and makes it look artistic. I enjoyed the film, despite my profound contempt towards the IDF (boo hiss).
However, as someone born and raised in Israel and a former IDF (boo hiss) soldier myself, I can’t help but wonder how well this could resonate with audiences where conscription doesn’t apply. A lot of the Israeli brand of Armed Farces derives from the fact that most soldiers serve because they have to and basically just knuckle under for two (for women) or three (for men) years, and many do their job with zero motivation. Aside from that, some Israeli-specific humour doesn’t translate well, e.g.:
Tehila mentioning the Sea of Galilee in the context of her history with Eitan—it’s a popular camping site for Israelis, but for non Israelis that’s where Jesuswalked on water
the reputation the Kirya has for being the cushiest place one could hope to serve—this is beyond just being ‘in Tel-Aviv’, as there are other bases here: it’s right in the middle of Tel-Aviv, across the street from the ‘Azrieli Centre and Sarona
some geographic points mentioned in the film, including the real-life remote base the film takes place in
So, generally, I suppose if you’re not Israeli, you’d probably enjoy the film for the much more universal appeal in the human dynamics, but you’ll probably miss on some cultural points here and there. But hey, now that you’ve read this review, there are probably only a few of those left, but just in case, read the Malicious Misnaming, Deconstruction, and Foreshadowing entries on the main page to cover everything.
Great film, though non-Israelis could miss out on some of it.
The film is wonderful. Writing-wise, everything happens for a reason and foreshadows something else, like a good Seinfeld episodes, yet nothing is predictable. The acting is very believable. The direction and cinematography update the classic Armed Farces tropes and makes it look artistic. I enjoyed the film, despite my profound contempt towards the IDF (boo hiss).
However, as someone born and raised in Israel and a former IDF (boo hiss) soldier myself, I can’t help but wonder how well this could resonate with audiences where conscription doesn’t apply. A lot of the Israeli brand of Armed Farces derives from the fact that most soldiers serve because they have to and basically just knuckle under for two (for women) or three (for men) years, and many do their job with zero motivation. Aside from that, some Israeli-specific humour doesn’t translate well, e.g.:
So, generally, I suppose if you’re not Israeli, you’d probably enjoy the film for the much more universal appeal in the human dynamics, but you’ll probably miss on some cultural points here and there. But hey, now that you’ve read this review, there are probably only a few of those left, but just in case, read the Malicious Misnaming, Deconstruction, and Foreshadowing entries on the main page to cover everything.