Sheva Dakot Be'gan Eden

Wow, I was pleasantly surprised by this little Israeli film. I went in with very low expectations, and it easily surpassed them all. Within the first 10 minutes, I could tell it was going to be a great film. A terrific, quiet character study of someone going through such a horrific ordeal – and that's just one layer. Your full attention is required for this one, so you don't get lost in its meandering narrative.

Cinematically, I thought the camera work was great. I liked the music used, as well as the lack thereof with the heavy use of nat sound for added realism. I loved the editing, and I thought the director did a great job. I thought the acting was great and the characters were developed well, the story was interesting and kept me engaged throughout.

I am a judge for the Indianapolis-based Heartland Film Festival. This feature film is a Crystal Heart Award Winner and is eligible to be the Grand Prize Winner in October of 2009. The Heartland Film Festival is a non-profit that honors Truly Moving Pictures. A Truly Moving Picture "…explores the human journey by artistically expressing hope and respect for the positive values of life."

Galia is a young woman who was a victim of a terrorist attack on a bus one year ago. Her boyfriend, Oren, was on the bus also and was in a coma and then died. Galia is suffering from painful burns on her back, but even worse, is suffering psychological trauma and guilt and hallucinations. And she doesn't know why she is getting hallucinations.

This is a quiet story of her trying to start up her life again with the help of a mysterious and almost-saintly stranger named Boaz. Why is he helping her? What is in it for him? Is she being stalked or is she being merely hit on or has she met an incredible altruistic human being?

This is a quiet movie that progresses inexorably to answer these questions. It is a story of nuances. The subtle facial expressions of the two main characters reveal much.

Galia is a woman with great honesty and wants to know the truth no matter where that leads her. She shows grace and spirit on her difficult journey.

FYI – There is a Truly Moving Pictures web site where there is a listing of past Truly Moving Picture Award winners that are now either at the theater or available on video.

This movie really is a true gem imo, its got great acting, fantastic cinematography and the atmosphere is very well done to.

Im not 100% sure why this movie effected me so much, maybe its that I've been through a lot of rough times before (health stuff, not being on a bus during a bomb) or if it was just the way the movie was presented.

I felt very connected to the characters in the movie, they felt very real and almost like it was real life and not even acting in a movie.

The main actress is very beautiful to and she plays this role so perfectly, some of the sad looks on her face to some of the wonderful smiles she has.

I wish we got more movies like this in North America/Hollywood, this really felt like a perfectly executed movie. It might not blow everyone away, but for what the director was trying to do I think it was perfect.

Some might find this a bit boring and slow but to me its a really well done character study that I am still thinking about a lot the next day after watching it.

Do yourself a favour and pick this movie up (I got it from Film Movement), you will not be disappointed!