Consulate and Department of Cultur-
al Affairs.
"We found a lot of films that were not
suitable for Detroit audiences, some
that were very erotic, or had gay
themes," says Blumenberg. "[Since we
were limited], we didn't want anything
that would lose any potential audience;
we wanted films that could appeal to
everyone."
The films that were chosen cover all
the bases: docu-
mentary, humor, In One of Us, four young
Israeli society, ro- defenders of modem
mance. "The pro- Israel find themselves in
gram was chosen a crossfire of conflicting
to cover different loyalties: a cause,
areas and to ap- comrades, oneself and
Uri Barbash
peal to a broad truth.
directs this sometimes
range of ages," violent, sometimes
adds Blumen- tender inspection of
berg. "And we human values. See
tried to keep a schedule for information
good balance. We about the Opening Night
didn't want every- discussion of this film.
thing to reflect Is-
raeli society, but wanted enough films
that people could get a good idea of what
a prolific industry Israeli film is."
All the films were made in Israel and
are in Hebrew with English subtitles.
Each film was viewed three times, to
make sure that the subtitles are not
white on white, something for which Is-
raeli films are famous, says Blumen-
berg. Also, of the 10 films, half are
suitable for ages 14 and up; the rest are
geared toward an adult audience.
Says Traison, "I think it's important
that this community, being the size that
it is, has a comparable festival that oth-
er communities have had for years. And
hopefully, this one will continue for
years."
Festival
Schedule
The following is a complete schedule
of the Israeli Film Festival perfor-
mances. The festival begins, following
Shabbat, on Saturday, April 5:
One Of Us 9 p.m. Saturday, April 5.
Opening Night Special: Following the
film, Osnat Ur-Leurer, a major in the
Education Corps of the Israel Defense
Forces, will lead an informal discus-
sion on "Is One of Us Fact or Fantasy?
Is a Situation Tike This Possible in To-
day's Israeli Society?" See photo.
The Flying Camel 2 p.m. Sunday,
April a Three unusual characters come
together for an adventurous comedy.
See photo.
The Heritage 4p.m. Sunday, April 6.
One Spanish Jewish family's fortunes
and misfortunes are chronicled over
half a millennium. See photo.
Cup Final 6 pan. Sunday, April 6. A
unique film contrasting war and sports.
Song of the Siren 8 p.m. Sunday,
April 6 1994's most popill sr film in Is-
rael, it's the story of a "thirtysomething"
advertising executive, her romances
and her mother's hopes for her to mar
Lovesick on Nana Street 10 p.m.
Saturday, April 12. Winner of eight Is-
raeli Academy Awards, a tale of dove
and romance.
❑
The Summer of Aviya 2 p.m. Sun-
day, April 13. Author/actress Gila Al-
magor and director Eli Cohen won the
Silver Menorah Award for this story of
a 10-year-old girl's adapting to life in
Israel, her Holocaust survivor mother,
and finding hope in music.
A Nun on the Run
Under the Domim Tree 4 p.m. Sun-
day, April 13. The sequel to Summer
ofAviya. See photo.
White Night 6 p.m. Sunday, April 13.
This is the American premiere of the
Cannes Film Festival award-winning
true story of an Israeli prisoner's dis-
covery of courage.
71
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Above: An eccentric Jewish professor who collects architectural artifacts, an
Arab garbage collector and a young Italian nun find commonality in The Flying
Camel, an uncommon comedy. Directed by Rami Na'aman and starring Gideon
Singer, Salim Dau and Laurence Bouvard.
Above: Set in Spain, The Heritage chronicles a Jewish family
from its destruction by the Inquisition in the 1400s to its discovery
in 1992 of a heritage lost for half a millennium. Directed by
Amnon Rubinstein and starring Avi Toledano and Yael Abecassis.
An Imagined Autobiography 8 p.m.
Sunday, April 13. "Everything exists
in the moment ... God exists in little
t) ings," says a young director of the ex-
perience of making a film about her
own life, including her mentally ill
mother and taciturn father. Directed
by and starring Michal Bat-Adam.
All films will be shown at the Maple
Theatres 3, Maple Road at Telegraph,
Birmingham. $7 each showing. Call
(810) 258-9270.
87