July 16

Close To Home (2005) - Vidi Bilu 

Description 

Life as a teenage girl in Israel isnt easy. Just ask Smadar (Smadar Sayar) and Mirit (Naama Schendar), two 18-year-olds who spend their workdays wearing fatigues as officers in the Israeli Army. Vidi Bilu and Dalia Hagars CLOSE TO HOME addresses the challenging concept of a country in which young women are forced to perform military service amidst the trials and tribulations of teenage confusion. Smadar is a rebellious type who clearly has issues letting people get close to her. Meanwhile, Mirit is as by-the-book as they come. When theyre paired together to patrol the streets of Jerusalem and perform random I.D. searches on those who look suspicious (i.e., any and all Arabs), it looks like theyre never going to get along. Gradually, they begin to warm up to each other, and a sisterly bond develops. But ultimately the strain of trying to balance personal issues with the stress of being soldiers causes them to rethink their friendship forever. Clearly a subject close to Bilu and Hagars hearts, CLOSE TO HOME is, at its core, a universal story about budding womanhood. But placed in a military context, the stakes are even higher, and the levels run even deeper. Both Sayar and Schendar deliver superb performances, capturing their characters constantly shifting emotional states with flawless accuracy.

My opinion

Well made drama with an at times, almost documentary approach, still need to write a review but well worth seeing.

Released by Soda Pictures

Low chance of rental release.

Eisenstein Collection Vol.1 

Description 

Collection of three films directed by Russian filmmaking legend Sergei Eisenstein. 

BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN, 
STRIKE and 
OCTOBER.

Released by Tartan Video

No chance of rental release.

And that. as they say is that, a very quiet week indeed.

Cheers Trev.