Aviva Ahuvati

After this film, Shemi Zarhin also wrote and directed "The World Is Funny," also set in Tiberias and also featuring some of the same actors. Also, in fact, involving attempts by the characters to write fiction. In both movies, an ordinary person seeks out help from a celebrity whose fame rests on his past. But it's been complained on these pages that in "Aviva, My Love" there are too many characters. I think that in "The World Is Funny" there are more, but the story is balanced among them and it's a more pleasant story. In "Aviva, My Love" much more attention goes to the female lead than to anyone else, and you can imagine why. Although she's supported by some of Israel's best actors, Assi Levy is consistently magnetic on the screen here. She won the country's best film actress award for this performance. It's not surprising that the film winds up giving little time to, for example, her adolescent children. How many are there, three? Pretty much the same film could have been written with two or even one. Not that I'm complaining. It's more gratifying to see someone make an impressive film like this and then a more impressive one like "The World Is Funny" than the other way around.

I found this movie largely disappointing. The main character is an Israeli woman trying to fulfill her dream by becoming a noted author but her dream is appropriated by the self-interest of her professional counselor Sound familiar? I sensed it was a re-telling of "Running With Scissors" from the mother's perspective: Mother wants to be a writer; dream stymied by professional adviser; gay son; dysfunctional family.

By telling the story from a woman's perspective, the male director allows himself to explore a feminist perspective. But is it truly feminist? As a male viewer, I was insulted by the depiction. All male characters, without exception, are weak and act like jerks. Isn't this the kind of stereotyping that the woman's movement found so offensive in its argument for equality. If the tables were turned and the movie was about a male protagonist stymied in his attempt for advancement by foolish females, woman would rightfully heap scorn on such a portrayal as sexist gibberish.

The ending seems contrived. Without being a spoiler I simply suggest the ending doesn't match the rest of the story.

I really liked this film. The acting was uneven, as often happens for some reason in Israeli films. The daughter and the professor were played unnaturally; you could "see" them acting. But this is made up by the wonderful lead role and her husband, who were just great.

The film vividly outlines the life of a normal person, bent under the burden of providing for her family, dealing with a crazy mom, unemployed husband, and kids with problems. But she's also different, because she's driven to write. There's no space for her to do this, and her problems stack against her NEED to create her stories. I definitely felt sympathetic for her, and she came to life for me.

And its FUNNY - so rare with Israeli films >>>>

Also GREAT cinematography; it makes Tiberas look so beautiful.

Well worth it.

I read good reviews and decided to give it a shot last night. the plot is about a "writer" that's trying to publish a book but she's not good enough of a writer. In between the main plot, that are a few mini-boring plots related to her sister and her mother. Most of the movie is focusing on her attempt to publish a book.

There are no jokes, no suspense or any dramatic events. It felt like a huge waste of my time. There is nothing really special going on in the movie, while watching it, I noticed that it was boring but was hoping for some sort of a twist at the end. What a huge disappointment, this movie is boring!

Unfortunately, the movie disappointed me tremendously. Poor characterization (too many characters), a trite treatment of the themes that were raised, a lack of development and resolution in the plot and a lot of general sloppiness. I couldn't help but compare it to Broken Wings and Nina's Tragedies- and found it sorely lacking. It seemed- in general- to lack quality.

On the other hand, the audience around me seemed to like it. And it's been very well reviewed in Israel- receiving an average of 4 out of 5 stars, making it the 5th best reviewed movie in Israel at the moment.

My guess is that if you liked Sof Ha Olam Smola, you might like this, too, even if it's more pretentious and less fun.