A contemporary variation in a classical music setting of the biblical story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.A contemporary variation in a classical music setting of the biblical story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.A contemporary variation in a classical music setting of the biblical story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar.
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"Harmonia" is a wonderful film, which had left me speechless and very touched. I enjoyed watching the very famous biblical story about Abraham-Sarah and Hagar, being "transformed" in the film, into a modern-day story.
The film is very interesting and is also amazingly photographed! (Very nice colors and compositions). The film is interesting because of the fact that the modern interpretation of the biblical story deals also with the Arab- Israeli conflict - through the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar in a very touching, unique and gentle way.
The movie "jumps" in time as the story progresses - it is done so naturally and in an almost "un-felt" manner.
The film is very interesting and is also amazingly photographed! (Very nice colors and compositions). The film is interesting because of the fact that the modern interpretation of the biblical story deals also with the Arab- Israeli conflict - through the story of Abraham, Sarah and Hagar in a very touching, unique and gentle way.
The movie "jumps" in time as the story progresses - it is done so naturally and in an almost "un-felt" manner.
Sort of an allegory on a tale from the Old Testament set as contemporary. That was fine; well written & acted. I take issue w/the pollyannaish ending & glossing over, if not ignoring, intelligently addressing a troubled youth. Despite the most loving, supportive parents their rebellious son comes within seconds of killing his infant half brother; mostly out of spite. There seems to be no lesson presented or learned to address his mental state & likely consequences especially as he grows older.
10Red-125
Harmonia (2016) is an Israeli film written and directed by Ori Sivan. The film is based directly on the story of Abraham, Sarah, and Hagar, played out in contemporary Jerusalem.
Alon Aboutboul plays Abraham, the handsome and charismatic conductor of the Jerusalem Philharmonic Orchestra. Tali Sharon portrays his wife Sarah, who is the orchestra's harpist. Yanna Yossef plays Hagar, who joins the orchestra as a French horn player.
As in the bible, Sarah cannot have children. (In the movie, she can conceive, but each pregnancy ends in miscarriage.) She suggests to Abraham that he conceive a child by Hagar, and this is what happens. The rest of the plot progresses from that point.
For truth in reviewing, I have to state that Tali Sharon and Yanna Yossef are two of the most beautiful women on the planet. (When we first see Yanna Yossef, we are supposed to understand that she's mousy and inhibited. No one is fooled. We all know she will blossom.)
Anyway, the beauty of the two female leads isn't a problem. The Genesis passage doesn't comment on the appearance of the two women. We only know that Sarah is older than Hagar, which is true in the movie. (Sharon is 37, Yosef is 28).
The acting of all three leads is superb. The music in the film is wonderful, and the cinematography is great. The plot really worked for me. It worked not just as a biblical adaptation, but as a contemporary story as well.
We watched this movie at the beautiful JCC Hart Theater, as part of the Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. The RIJFF presented hit after hit after hit. We saw 12 movies, most of which I rated either 9 or 10. If you live in Upstate New York, I suggest that you get onto the RIJFF mailing list, because some of the movies will be re-shown during the next 12 months. The 2018 RIJFF will probably be as good or better. Start planning now!
Alon Aboutboul plays Abraham, the handsome and charismatic conductor of the Jerusalem Philharmonic Orchestra. Tali Sharon portrays his wife Sarah, who is the orchestra's harpist. Yanna Yossef plays Hagar, who joins the orchestra as a French horn player.
As in the bible, Sarah cannot have children. (In the movie, she can conceive, but each pregnancy ends in miscarriage.) She suggests to Abraham that he conceive a child by Hagar, and this is what happens. The rest of the plot progresses from that point.
For truth in reviewing, I have to state that Tali Sharon and Yanna Yossef are two of the most beautiful women on the planet. (When we first see Yanna Yossef, we are supposed to understand that she's mousy and inhibited. No one is fooled. We all know she will blossom.)
Anyway, the beauty of the two female leads isn't a problem. The Genesis passage doesn't comment on the appearance of the two women. We only know that Sarah is older than Hagar, which is true in the movie. (Sharon is 37, Yosef is 28).
The acting of all three leads is superb. The music in the film is wonderful, and the cinematography is great. The plot really worked for me. It worked not just as a biblical adaptation, but as a contemporary story as well.
We watched this movie at the beautiful JCC Hart Theater, as part of the Rochester International Jewish Film Festival. The RIJFF presented hit after hit after hit. We saw 12 movies, most of which I rated either 9 or 10. If you live in Upstate New York, I suggest that you get onto the RIJFF mailing list, because some of the movies will be re-shown during the next 12 months. The 2018 RIJFF will probably be as good or better. Start planning now!
9Nozz
This film finally achieved commercial release in its home country, Israel, after more than two years. Apparently it belongs to a project founded to bring out films that are based on Bible stories.
It's easy to name modern characters Abraham and Sara to match the Bible story, but what's a good match for God? The writer uses music. Abraham and Sara are blessed with musical ability, which they pass on to their children-- members of a chosen family. The children grow up with Biblical speed. Just as the Bible skips years and years, so does the movie. And also like the Bible, it doesn't go deeply into motivations.
Lots of episodes are rough around the edges in terms of plotting. The moment the audience can guess what's going to happen, the script skips past it to begin the next episode in medias res. It skips past emotional confrontations that would have been sure-fire ways to engage audience attention.
What the movie does include to keep the audience interested is fine photography, mostly of faces and interiors. Abraham has a Jerusalem apartment to die for, apparently located above the philharmonic orchestra's concert hall. The music is nice too, although some of it is unimaginatively chosen.
All in all, the movie is intriguing and well worth watching, although those who apparently doubted its commercial appeal appear to have been right.
It's easy to name modern characters Abraham and Sara to match the Bible story, but what's a good match for God? The writer uses music. Abraham and Sara are blessed with musical ability, which they pass on to their children-- members of a chosen family. The children grow up with Biblical speed. Just as the Bible skips years and years, so does the movie. And also like the Bible, it doesn't go deeply into motivations.
Lots of episodes are rough around the edges in terms of plotting. The moment the audience can guess what's going to happen, the script skips past it to begin the next episode in medias res. It skips past emotional confrontations that would have been sure-fire ways to engage audience attention.
What the movie does include to keep the audience interested is fine photography, mostly of faces and interiors. Abraham has a Jerusalem apartment to die for, apparently located above the philharmonic orchestra's concert hall. The music is nice too, although some of it is unimaginatively chosen.
All in all, the movie is intriguing and well worth watching, although those who apparently doubted its commercial appeal appear to have been right.
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- Armonía
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- 1h 37m(97 min)
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