Broken Wings
Submitted by DJ FILIBUSTER on Sun, 2006-09-10 09:57.
Filmed before the 9/11 tragedy, director Nir Bergman`s feature-length debut finds its surreal charm in that it`s an Israeli film oblivious to the chaos that`s consumed the country. Here, we get a glimpse into a struggling single-mom (Orly Zilberschatz-Banai) family of five, on the verge of collapse. Translation: the best thing about Broken Wings is its universal appeal--the story could`ve happened virtually anywhere around the world with the same characters. Maya (Maya Maron), who resembles a young PJ Harvey, is a teenager torn between her obligations to her Mazzy Star-ish band (she`s the lead singer) and her responsibility as the eldest sister. Her brother, Yair (Nitai Gvirtz), is the archetype for a modern, disaffected high school dropout on the fast track to nowhere, whose job is handing out flyers dressed as a mouse. He and his younger brother, Ido (Daniel Magon), are the most visibly affected by the loss of their father, which has developed into a rift between them and the females in the family. Bergman`s attempt at an epiphanic ending to tie up the film falls short of the desired effect, but he still manages to make his point. Although Broken Wings plays out like a soap operatic melodrama, it also serves as a poignant reminder that everybody has their problems regardless of racial background, while emphasizing how precious and fragile a family bond really is.
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