Ha-Chayim Al-Pi Agfa

Well made Israeli drama with a subtle comic edge. Artistically shot in black-and-white, the story details the intertwining lives of those who frequent a small coffee-house/bar. An intimate vision of a microcosmos fraught with conflict, tension, romance, betrayal and madness, the characterizations are spot-on. Director Dayan (who is the son of eye-patch wearing Israeli army general Moshe Dayan) portrays this group of people and their situations convincingly, and the film is compelling throughout.

Strictly adult viewing though, as "Agfa" contains coarse language, drug use and graphic violence, including a police interrogation torture scene on par with the "Stuck In The Middle With You" sequence from Reservoir Dogs. A challenging yet thought-provoking watch nonetheless, this movie will optimally be appreciated by an Israeli audience (due to many cultural references and Hebrew expressions to which no amount of subtitles can do justice) or an open-minded art-house buff. It also boasts one of the most unlikely and devastating endings ever committed to film, and for that alone, it deserves your attention.

Can someone tell me why such a MASTERPIECE of an art film is IMPOSSIBLE to find on DVD?? If it is, PLEASE PLEASE tell me where, okey!!!!!!!!!

It's not often I've experienced a story told with such passion and pain, where Assi Dayan have done this fantastic thing to color the film in black/white, which gave me an extra dimension in the relations between the characters and me as an observer to how these fascinating, but still so believable persons develop quite absurd relationships. He really gives you time to learn these regulars at the bar and then ends the film as he does, leaving you, or at least me with this very uncomfortable end!! It's just brilliant and disturbing, nearly left me with the feeling of loosing my friends in such a shocking way. WELL DONE!!!!

Dayan has made many films, But of those I have seen I think this is the Best. It is only in Black and White and not a documentary but it indirectly criticizes Israeli Society. It is also filmed in some of the worst part's of Downtown Tel Aviv. Gila Almagor is also at her Best in this film.

I think, although not being Israeli, everyone can understand the strong conflicts of these people, especially by seeing this brilliant masterpiece, which can be compared to "Do the Right Thing", also to "Nashville", because of the many diverse characters portrayed and the "explosive" final conflict. A very important and underestimated Movie, that impressed EVERYONE I know who saw it.

A film that shows in a very congenial way that there are people in Israel which only want to live in "love and peace" with the arabian people and that shows how dangerous it is to want this. This film should be a must for all people talking about the crises of Israel and Palestine.