Knafayim Shvurot (2002)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Nir Bergman

Writer:

Nir Bergman (writer)

Release Date:

24 October 2002 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Plot:

Daphne and her four children try to cope with the abrupt death of husband/father. As the family seems to fall apart, a sudden incident gives them a chance to heal their 'broken wings'.

Plot Keywords:

Death | Children | Musician | Tragedy Child | Dead Father

Awards:

15 wins & 2 nominations

Cast

Orly Silbersatz Banai	...	Dafna Ulman
Maya Maron	...	Maya Ulman
Daniel Magon	...	Ido Ulman
Nitai Gvirtz	...	Yair Ulman
Eliana Magon	...	Bahr Ulman
Vladimir Friedman	...	Dr. Valentin Goldman
Dana Ivgy	...	Iris
Yarden Bar-Kochba	...	Flora, School Counselor
Danny Niv	...	Yoram (as Danny "mooki" Niv)
Orit Boger	...	Teacher
Nimrod Cohen	...	Gaga
Eitan Green	...	The Father
Martin Umanski	...	Video Photographer
Shira Vilenski
Lobo Wizner	...	Band member

Also Known As:

Broken Wings (UK) (literal English title)

MPAA:

Rated R for some language, brief nudity and drug use.

Runtime:

87 min | Switzerland:84 min

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Singapore:PG | Argentina:13 | Australia:M | Philippines:PG-13 | Switzerland:12 (canton of Geneva) | Switzerland:12 (canton of Vaud) | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Carmelit Subway, Haifa, Israel

Company:

Israeli Film Fund

Trivia:

Ido and Bahr are played by real-life brother and sister Daniel and Eliana Magon.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Noodle (2007)

Soundtrack:

Sratim Metzuyarim

Regardless of it's geographical setting, this is an involving and rather moving little drama

Maya is a teenager who has hopes of someday having a better life through her singing. However, on the night of her first gig she is called home to look after her young brother and sister while her mother goes to a night-shift at the hospital. This is the pattern of Maya's life since her father died about 9 months before – her mother Dafna never seems to be around, her elder brother seems to be on a downward spiral of depression while the youngest children seem adrift and distant.

Whenever I sit down to watch a film that comes from Israel, it is tempting to assume that the film will deal with or at least touch on the troubles there. That was the case with this film and I was pleasantly surprised that this was actually a drama about teenage relationships and difficulties. The plot focuses on Maya but draws in the other characters into a story that is rather low-key and small but manages to be involving and rather moving. It's not perfect of course and some viewers may find it's pace a little slow and the insular nature of the drama to be a little folded in on itself (especially if you expected the wider conflicts to be drawn into it in some way). As a teenage drama this is rather touching and is an enjoyable little drama that is based on a well written script.

The performances are also very good and there aren't really any weak links in this regard. Maron is well cast and her Maya is interesting and sympathetic. Banar has a more difficult role but does it well and keeps the audience with her. Gaviratz is good even if his character is the most difficult to get to know; the younger children are also good and rise above the usual cute performances that Hollywood seems to draw from kids on a regular basis. The film paints a small family drama on a little canvas and the good cast are a major part of producing a story that really engages.

Overall this is an enjoyable little family drama that is quite involving and quite touching. The characters are well written and well delivered by a roundly good cast. Short and bittersweet and well worth a watch if you can find it – everywhere in the world there are families and teenagers and everywhere in the world they have conflict.