Avis Metacritic

Credit the disarming cast, especially Oshri Cohen as the boy and Arie Ellias as his eccentric grandfather. They help turn what could be a standard comedy into a life-affirming, enjoyable one.

Deftly composed of many small moments, this gentle Israeli film skirts politics to portray a family that is blessedly normal in its internal chaos.

The film has the unpolished charm of a diamond in the rough, and it boasts a richer inner life than most of the teen movies currently bouncing off the assembly line.

May ultimately be slight, but its appeal lies in its ability to find hope and strength in the soulful eyes of a gentle teenager.

Falls somewhere between "Cinderella" and "Malcolm in the Middle," and that's pretty much the challenge that faces actor Oshri Cohen, who very nearly pulls it off.

There's nothing unique about Zarhin's plot -- it's a standard coming-of-age tale with traces of "Good Will Hunting" -- but she portrays the intra-family dynamics with unusual honesty and accuracy.

Sweet if slight Israeli comedy.

A bit naive and formless.

Eventually gets so bogged down in its own quirkiness that its humanistic message gets lost.

The picture is a bland procession of loosely framed close-ups, which serve only to underline the amateurish performances.