The Bubble
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Movie Reviews of The Bubble
Movie Review: A re-telling of Romeo and Juliet, set in Israel-Palestine
Summary: 4 Stars
The lead actors in The Bubble and the characters they play are all appealing, and the film provided a look at Tel Aviv that I, pretty much an outsider to Israeli culture and politics, had never seen before. It was particularly interesting to learn about a youth movement in Israel that is sympathetic to the plight of Palestinians; one does not always hear about this movement when reading about Israel in the American press. Characters' observations about living in "a bubble" wherein idealism, intellectuality, and tolerance seem to insulate people from harsh realities in life are well taken.
The two male leads have a sweetly depicted romance that moves the film forward. The romantic/sexual explorations of two secondary characters provide comic relief and insight into the vexing foibles of 20 something love in a big city; these secondary situations are two-dimensional, though, and don't contribute as much to the film as the central relationship between a young Jewish Israeli guy and a Muslim Palestinian.
As is the case in Romeo and Juliet or West Side Story, The Bubble is melodrammatic in its resolution of the forbidden relationship between "star-crossed lovers." That said, the movie is enjoyable as a love story, as an introduction on a personal level to the emotional nuances of Israeli-Palestianian politics, and as an affirmation that there can be moral beauty in a loving relationship between two men--even when the world is hostile to the relationship.
Movie Review: Good follow-up to Eytan Fox's 'Walk on Water'
Summary: 4 Stars
As a big fan and proselytizer of Eytan Fox's 2004 smash hit, Walk on Water, I rubbed my hands in anticipation to see that his follow-up, The Bubble, was now on DVD. While this one doesn't measure up to 'Water,' it's definitely compulsory viewing for those of you who, if you're like me, enjoy great Israeli cinema.
Fox is a trenchant observer of Israeli/Arab conflicts. In these last two films, he's poked his thumb in the eye of 'official' government policy in subtle but notable ways. In 'Water,' he depicts Lior Ashkenazi's Mossad agent tiring of and eventually giving up his life of walled-off vigilance. Here in 'The Bubble,' we see a group of young Israelis bond (unknowingly, for some) with a Palestinian compatriot. [And, as an added bonus, we get Ashkenazi playing himself in a Tel Aviv performance of 'Bent'. That was an outstanding touch by Fox.]
I think the film could have done with an ending slightly less melodramatic than what Fox has offered up here (can't really even hint at it here without giving it away). Also, this film got made and released before 2006's fierce conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. I wonder if that would have changed the movie, as skillfully written by Fox and longtime partner (professionally and otherwise) Gal Uchovsky. The movie's title refers to Tel Aviv's walled-off "life goes on" verve as battles often rage just a scant distance away on the country's very close borders. In the 2006 conflict, The Bubble must have seemed, to put it mildly, somewhat less disconnected from all that.
I especially liked the work turned in by Yousef Sweid here as 'Ashraf.' He was Palestinian waiter 'Rafik' in 'Walk on Water.'
Now, here's my updated list of 'gotta see' pieces of Israeli cinema, presented in no particular order....other than 'The Syrian Bride,' which is first on the list because it's first in my mind:
The Syrian Bride
Time of Favor
Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi
Broken Wings
Late Marriage
Walk on Water
The Bubble
Yana's Friends
Movie Review: The Bubble: Love Transcending Politics
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a beautiful film, because it captures the incomprehensible political situation in the Middle East in terms many of us can relate to. The characters are very believable and I found myself becoming very attached to them. That made the message of the film all the more difficult to take in. This film will be with me for a long time to come.Movie Review: The Bubble: A true piece of cinematic art
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a truly amazing film on so many levels. As a narrative, it is deeply poignant as you find yourself connecting with the characters in their joys, pains, frustrations, love and passions. As a love story between two gay men across conflicting borders, it raises political and moral questions of citizenship and the role of the State. As a representation of conflict in the Middle East, it paints a portrait of the human side of those caught in the mix of turmoil, those dreaming of a life of peace where they can simply be. These are the images we rarely see in mainstream news, but are strung together in a beautiful film that will make you think and it will draw out feelings and emotions from all ends of the spectrum. The Bubble is a blend of current events, politics, philosophy, excitement, sorrow, humor and wit, relationships, and much much more. This is a true piece of art. Movie Review: Sex and Politics and Boy Bands
Summary: 4 Stars
Israeli director Eytan Fox has juggled films with sex and politics before (Yossi & Jagger), but does so superbly in this tragic love story. Inside "The Bubble" that is Tel Aviv, Lulu works in a beauty shop, Yali manages a trendy cafe and Noam works in a music store. The three share an apartment until a chance encounter with a palestinian named Ashraf sets things into motion. Noam and Ashraf fall in love, even as Yali feels pangs of jealousy, and the trio of room mates conspire to shelter Ashraf in Tel Aviv.
Of course, Ashraf can't stay undercover forever, and when he heads back to the West Bank to attend his sister's wedding to a terrorist. When his closet life gets discovered, he becomes trapped between the two worlds. The idealistic trio back in Tel Aviv have planned a rave for co-existence, all while Jihad, the groom to be, plans out an act of violence to perpetuate the conflict. The thin lines of cultural violence and revenge weave back and forth as "The Bubble" plunges towards its conclusion.
While the crossing threads can seem a bit too obviously absurd, "The Bubble" still moves at a steady pace. It hits all the emotional high points with expertise, with Noam's singing Tim Buckley's "Song of the Siren" being especially moving. The love story is a good fit, as Noam and Ashraf make a believable star-crossed couple. The soundtrack is strong throughout, incorporating Bright Eyes, Lloyd Cole and others. Almost as good a film as Brokeback Mountain, "The Bubble" is an excellent entry into international gay cinema.