Before the Canada-premiere screening of An Israeli Love Story here in Toronto, the director Dan Wolman emphasized to the audience that his film is a love story primarily, and after the film during the QA session - when someone asked a politically-charged question - Mr. Wolman would not go there, stressing again that his film is a love story. Some may have seen that as a cop out, as the setting of this love story is around the time when the State of Israel was established, in an area where there were sometimes-hostile neighbours who regularly made their presence known. But I stand behind Mr. Wolman 100% - it is a love story above all, with a backdrop that just happens to be politically and culturally exciting. As Mr. Wolman also pointed out before the film, this love story could have happened anywhere in the world, meaning that it possesses many elements of a classic love story, for example, girl becomes infatuated with guy, and they at long last unite but there are big bumps in the road. OK, it occurs in volatile Mandatory Palestine, and sure that plays a role in directing the course of the love story. But what epic love story isn't fraught with tumult, and when are young lovers not vulnerable to the whirlwinds.
What was especially fascinating to me about the love story was that even though the couple were Israeli, and even though they were neighbours, that one was brought up on a kibbutz and the other on a moshav created overwhelming differences in the young couple that love would conquer or not, but it would be a challenge. Another classic love story element - when the honeymoon period ends with dissimilarity rearing its ugly head.
I saw An Israeli Love Story with an Israeli-Canadian who hasn't been back to Israel for a while, and she was thrilled nostalgically by the film. She marveled at how authentic it was, from the way people talked to how they lived to the food they were eating. Israel is so different now, she said, but she thought the film captured the soul of Israel in addition to being effective as a period piece, bringing the Israel of another era to life in 2016 despite having been made on a shoestring budget.
An Israeli Love Story was composed with a lot of love - passionately and skillfully made, and passionately and skillfully acted. Bravo to everyone involved.
