Film review

Here, there, and everywhere: The 2026 Anthropological Film Festival does the global cultural rounds

The 15th edition of the festival is scheduled for November 17-19, with 14 movies from expansive ethnic and cultural domains lined up for the three-day program.

‘The Song of Aida’: Displaced Roma community in Italy.
Benjamin Voisin stars as Meursault, who wrestles with questions of how to act in a godless universe where everything is absurd and meaningless.

Albert Camus' classic existential novel 'The Stranger' receives a sleek, stunning cinematic update

ADI HAVSHUSH in ‘Save the Date.'

Hit series ‘Save the Date’ headed for the big screen

‘Out of Love’ presents a soothing universe where things fall into place in the end.

Camille Cottin elevates French family drama 'Out of Love' as it opens in Israeli theaters - review


‘Kiss Me Kosher’ tells a comic story of an Israeli-German couple - film review

It’s a typically irreverent joke in a movie that is a mixture of a rom-com and a more serious look at how Israelis deal with prejudice and the past, which is now playing in theaters.

 A SCENE from ‘Kiss Me Kosher.’

A young woman displays extraordinary courage in ‘Irena’s Vow’ - review

Irena’s Vow gives us a look into the life of the kind of person we all hope we would be if we found ourselves tested like this.

 SOPHIE NELISSE plays the role of the heroine of ‘Irena’s Vow.’

The French Festival in Israel comes of age with diverse mix of films - review

This year's festival features a wide variety of films, mixing classics with contemporary films and star-studded casts.

 A scene from 'The Crime is Mine.'

‘The Other Widow’: A complex story of two women

It’s appropriate that the movie opened just in time for International Women’s Day, although of course Rypp never imagined it would be released during wartime.

 A SCENE from ‘The Other Widow’ with Ania Bukstein (left) and Dana Ivgy.

Hipsters will love 'Robot Dreams' - review

Recreating the East Village of decades ago will be fun for adult viewers, but not for the vast majority of children, so ignore how appealing this movie looks on the poster and don’t bring your kids.

 ROBOT DREAMS

New film 'Shoshana' tells a love story in the shadow of history - review

The movie uses a newsreel format to give the story historical context and to lay out the many different factions who fought each other during the pre-state years.

 MICHAEL WINTERBOTTOM’S ‘Shoshana.’ might have worked better as a mini-series than a movie, the writer opines.

'A Difficult Year': An easy-to-enjoy film hits Israel - review

Since we are now experiencing a truly difficult year, it’s nice to have a movie like this to help us get through it.

 A SCENE from ‘A Difficult Year.’

The worst of times, the best of movies

Here are my 10 best international films this year (with one exception, these all played in movie theaters in Israel), followed by the 10 best Israeli movies. 

 NANNI MORETTI'S 'A Brighter Tomorrow.'

‘Ferrari’ feels  as if it’s stuck in second gear at times - film review

The movie reinvents no wheels. But it sure knows how to film ’em.

 A SCENE from ‘Ferrari.’

‘Rebel Moon’ fails to land its own mythology - film review

Netflix’s Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire,” attempts to create a ready-made Star Wars-like series with its own internal mythology and iconography.

 SOFIA BOUTELLA in ‘Rebel Moon – Part One: A Child of Fire.’