The Bubble
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Movie Reviews of The Bubble
Movie Review: Sexy, Moving & Thought Provoking! Bravo, Eyton Fox!
Summary: 5 Stars
Eyton Fox is one of the best filmmakers alive. Each movie that he creates is better than the previous. Everything about this movie is top flight: the superb acting, the wonderful writing, the great editing and the thrilling directing. All praise to a director who can make a sexy movie that is about something of great importance.Movie Review: Excellent film
Summary: 5 Stars
I really like this director and how he handles delicate subject matter. As an Israeli film we can believe that apart from the political rhetoric there is an alternative balanced view of this tragic dilemma existing between Israel and Palestine.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: Borders and Bridges
Summary: 4 Stars
The Israeli/Palestinian conflict persists and while the world may be aware of the violence surrounding the division of the two countries, few have a clue to the other aspect of the division - the group of people who want peace and work toward eradicating the separation. Eytan Fox, in THE BUBBLE ('Ha-Buah'), has created a much needed alternative viewpoint of the schism, electing to tell a story that contains some fine humor, a lot of love, and a taste of brutal reality. It is a window into a situation that begs for understanding.
In Tel Aviv three close friends are roommates: Lulu (Daniela Virtzer), a beautiful young woman with strong opinions; Yali (Alon Friedman), a very 'out' gay young man who works in a popular café; and Noam (Ohad Knoller), a handsome, somewhat shy fellow who, in addition to his day job in a music shop, is a member of the National Guard and therefore spends his free time serving as a guard at the city's checkpoints. It is during one of these guard duty weekends that he meets a young Palestinian named Ashraf (Yousef 'Joe' Sweid), and a mutual attraction occurs. The three friends decide to 'stowaway' the illegally present Ashraf (whom they nickname with an Israeli name) and while Ashraf and Noam settle into a love relationship, Yali hires Ashraf at his café, and Yali and Lulu both proceed to find love interests, too. All goes well until Ashraf must return home for his sister's wedding. Though in Tel Aviv Ashraf has been able to be openly gay with Noam, life is far different in Jerusalem: Ashraf is told he must marry his sister's groom-to-be sister. In an attempt to rescue Ashraf from his fate, Noam and Lulu disguise themselves as French reporters to gain access to Ashraf. In a moment of supposed seclusion, Noam and Ashraf are discovered kissing by the groom-to-be, and this act gives cause for blackmail in order for Ashraf to remain 'in the closet'.
While the young people in Tel Aviv are dancing at an event to raise attention for peaceful coexistence, an attack occurs in Jerusalem - one that has grave consequences not only immediately, but also in the revenge mission Ashraf must now assume. The ending is tragic on many levels and it underlines just how serious the problem between these two countries is.
The acting is so very natural that from both the comedic and the tragic aspects the audience completely believes in these beautiful young people. The story finds the right balance between the serious and the lighthearted and it is this balance than makes Eytan Fox such a fine writer/director. More people should watch this important and very fine film. In Hebrew, Arabic, and English with subtitles. Grady Harp, February 08
Movie Review: a pair of star-cross'd lovers
Summary: 4 Stars
I borrowed this from the local library without knowing anything more than provided by the description on the back of the box. I thought it would be some light, fluffy, Will-and-Grace type comedy, and was pleased to find instead a contemporary tale of star-cross'd lovers.
In a scene that echoes the opening street brawl between the House of Montague and the House of Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, The Bubble begins during an altercation at an Israeli checkpoint. The Palestinian travelers are squabbling with the gruff Israeli soldiers over their treatment, when a woman goes into labor. A young soldier, Noam (Ohad Knoller), tries to deliver the baby, while Ashraf (Yousef 'Joe' Sweid) translates for him and comforts the woman. They notice each other in the moment, but part ways immediately when the baby is born dead.
A disillusioned Noam returns to civilian life, and is enjoying his time with his flat mates when Ashraf appears and returns the Israeli's lost passport. The two go up to the roof of the building, and their relationship takes off from there - in explicit visuals I might add. For those who are wondering about love scenes, gay or otherwise, this movie has both. If male or female nudity, or male-male love scenes truly bother you, you'll probably want to steer clear of The Bubble, though in doing so you will miss a good movie.
The performance of Yousef 'Joe' Sweid is heartbreakingly wonderful and can't help but draw the viewer in. He portrays an endearing innocence in a world hostile to everything Ashraf is, without the character feeling forced or contrived. Such a character not carefully handled can easily appear quaint, and even idiotic to an audience, but here you come to care for a man who seemingly has obstacles at every point on the compass.
It's acting well done, and Sweid is not alone. Daniella Wircer (also sometimes credited as Daniela Virtzer) imbues the token girl friend/flame dame role with a great deal of zest and the two other male leads give good turns in their roles. You start to think of them as family - the way the characters view themselves. They are young, and almost ridiculously idealistic, but they instill hope in the viewer, even when we know how star-crossed love stories play out.
If you've an open mind, it's two hours well spent.