14 Friday, December 30, 1983 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS `Hamsin' Film Wins Prize for Israel CREATIVE ARTIFICIAL GREENERY By HELENA FLUSFEDER World Zionist Press Service • For Home Or Office Silk arrangements - Dramatic custom design Plants - lifelike 2' to 5' Trees - on natural bark 20% OFF ON EVERYTHING (no charges or layaways) PLEASE CALL FOR APPOINTMENT 626-9141 . 11 II II MO 50% I 1. I I I - 1 I Off H On ALL Drycleaning I I 626-9142 The seemingly eternal problem of Jewish-Arab re- lationships in Israel is sens- titively portrayed in the Is- raeli movie "Hamsin," which recently won second prize at the international film festival in tocarno. Directed by Israeli film- maker Danny Wachsman, the movie describes the sharp increase of tension between Jews and Arabs in a northern Israeli village, primarily over the old prob- lem of land. "Hamsin" refers not only 3 locations 1 1 1 JN I I 1 1 1 23043 Beech to serve you 22185 Coolidge at 9 Mile, Southfield 31555 W. 10 Mile at 9 Mile, Oak Park at Orchard Lake, Farmington I 1 Coupon must be presented with order — Expires Jan. 13th IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIMMINIIIININIIIIIII,11111111111111111=1=1•1111111•111131111=1111===•11111111•11111111111.111 STAN'S INCOME TAX SERVICE NOW SERVING YOU AT OUR NEW LOCATION 29291 Southfield Rd. in Farrell's Plaza PHONE 559-7783 r I SENIOR CITIZEN SPECIAL Apartment Rent Credit Home Heating Credit Both Forms Only $ 15.00 with ad OM NEW CLIENTS ONLY NAME BRAND ITEMS r4Z.Z4D 61 Jewelers 424-8733 28480 Southfield Rd., Lathrup Village Mon.-Fri. 9-5 Sat. 9-4 *WITH PURCHASE to the quick, hot wind, which is characteristic of the Middle East, but also to the parallel waves of heated aggression which break out dramatically between the two peoples. Wachsman described the movie as "an attempt to document my fears about what is happening in this country, especially in recent years. The growing violence, the tendency to see Arab citi- zens as second class, the reluctance of many Is- raelis — even the so- called liberals — to relate to the problem. Most just cut themselves off from the question, closing their eyes to what goes on in the kitchens_and bars along Dizengofr (where cheap Arab labor is widely exploited). In a recent interview in a Tel Aviv cafe, Wachsman reminisced about the origi- nal Zionist dream, of build- ing a unique society. Yet now he feels that Israel is too much like any other country. He said: "Today, we wake from the dream — the film ("Hamsin") is a kind of waking." For him the reality is "Jew and Arab living in a circle of aggres- sion" and it is this world that he describes in his sharp and relentless movie. While the older genera- tion of Arabs had been able to live peacefully side by side (and some even had a special relationship) with their Jewish neighbors, the Arab youths in the un- named northern Israeli vil- lage are shown as striving for a new-found national identity. Relations between the two groups (Jews and Arabs) break down over the subject of land ownership and• this is clearly exemplified in the severed ties between the Birmann family (Jewish) and the Abass family (Arab), who had formerly been on good terms. The movie projects a realistic picture of the lovely physical land- scape as the background of the fictitious yet au- thentic plot of the movie. Arab resentment for the way the Jews covet land which was in Arab hands is treated sympatheti- cally in the film. Indeed, the Jewish farmers are often portrayed as insen- sitive to the Arab's di- lemmas. Set against this appar- ently peaceful landscape, tempers flare after talk of (state) confiscation of the Arab lands, and Jewish farmer Gedalia Birmann's subsequent offer to buy them. Birmann seems to be motivated by one thing only: his ambition to build up the family farm. He has been helped in this task by a young hired Arab worker, Halled. At first, the two men are shown working and living closely together. Wachsman emphasizes their closeness in a scene when they wash together under the same water hose after a day's work. At this point, they are bound to- gether by shared aims and experiences. The quiet, hard-working and loyal Halled eventually becomes romantically in- volved with Hava (Bir- mann's sister) who has just returned to the village from Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the Arab family succumbs to ex- ternal pressure not to sell the lands (in spite of the threat of state confisca- tion). When Birmann's deal on these lands falls through, and he becomes aware of the bond be- tween Hava and Halled, the whole situation be- comes intolerable. The culmination comes in Halled's death at the hands of Birmann in a scene of unforgettable power. During his whole time, Halled had strug- gled to remain loyal to Birmann and to Hava as well as to his Arab friends, who are strain- ing towards indepen- dence. This violent, well-made movie so critical of Israeli society, was well received in Israel. Many creative ar- tists in Israel are critical of present trends in their society and the country's democratic make-up and traditions enable them to express their reservations freely. However, while the landscape and the political background are carefully evoked on the screen, the individual characters, al- though described in minute detail, remain somewhat flat. The gripping plot, tense confrontations, dramatic music (composed by Raviv Gazit), good acting and photography make "Ham- sin" one of the finest recent movies — on an uncomfort- able, difficult subject — to be made in Israel. the K .........., Where Fit is Foremost . osins Uptown • Southfield Rd. at I l'ir Mile • 559-3900 41g a Tall • Southfield at II Mile 569-6930 TERRY I. BERLIN Attorney At Law FAST, COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL SERVICES phone 353-1474 ANSONIA'S DESIGNER SHOES & HANDBAGS AT DISCOUNT PRICES NEW ORLEANS MAUI ORCHARD MALI. Greenfield at 10 Mile Orchard Lake at Maple Sfid. • 557-3111 W. BIM. • 626-6200 UE ORCHESTRA 345-7139 541-7651 Window Fashion Sale Discounts to 6 0 c y Free Measuring 0 - • • • • • • • Horizontal 1" Blinds Horizontal 1 & 2" Wood Blinds Vertical Blinds Verosol Blinds By Window Shades Woven Woods Carpet Anso IV • Levolor • Delmar • Sun Pro • Graber • Galaxy Mills The Great Cover-Up Showroom in Congress Bldg. (by appointment) 30555 Southfield Rd. 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