By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 3.5 cats
Director: Nir Bergman
Starring: Daniel Magon | Eliana Magon | Maya Maron | Nitai Gaviratz | Orly Silbersatz Banai
Original language title: Knafayim Shvurot
Country: israel
Year: 2004
Running time: 87
IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0317842/combined
Michael says: “If you’re looking for that last film to catch before you nominate, and your local video store has a good Foreign Film section, I highly recommend BROKEN WINGS, and Israeli film by writer/director Nir Bergman. This moving and surprisingly funny film focuses on a mother and her four children and the varying ways they each struggle to recover from their grief over the death of their husband/father. Dafna works as long hours as a midwife and struggles with the seemingly insurmountable task of keeping her four troubled kids on the right track. Fortunately for her, oldest daughter Maya has prematurely borne the responsibility for the family, when she should be enjoying her high school years and her talent as the singer/songwriter for a local band. Yair has stopped going to school, and would prefer to pass out pamphlets on the subway while dressed as a mouse. Ten-year-old Ido is sullen an uncommunicative, while five-year-old Bahr just wants her mother’s attention, especially on her first day in kindergarten.
“Guilt is shared by various members of the family, and when another tragedy shakes the family’s foundations even more, there is a simultaneous tearing and mending of various relationships as things grow increasingly out of hand. The script avoids sentimentality, yet avoids following the devastatingly bleak road taken in foreign films. Performances are strong all around, especially Maya Maron as Maya, who needs her mother’s love even as she fights against the overwhelming guilt that keeps her sacrificing for the family. Orly Silbersatz Banai is convincing as the often unsympathetic Dafna, a mother who wants only to sleep when she is not tirelessly working to keep money flowing into the household. Bergman’s screenplay is very strong, as is the direction. Valentin Belonogov’s cinematography is terrific, making great use of the city, and the various times of day and night the film takes place. He’s done many films including a Buried Treasure nominee from several years ago, YANA’S FRIENDS. A strong, somber film from a talented director. 4 cats.”
Diane says: “I’ll just add my two cents that I thought the characters and perfs were great, but the story was plain. 3 cats.”