Customer Reviews

Ephraim Kishon

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I assume that it is Ephraim kishon 5 DVD set containing all of his movies that I have (only one I am aware of). First, for the incorrect data, this DVD is zone free, truly viewable on any equipment. This set contains 5 films and one documentary on kishon's movies, it contains some of the best Israeli films ever, all are comedies by Efraim Kishon, one of the best satirists ever (famous for his books, outside of Israel his movies are not known). All of the films are in imdb, for more info, look it up.

Movies in this set (all comedies in Hebrew, all have English and Hebrew subtitles, some have also Russian subtitles):

1) Sallah Shabati, B&W 1964, one of the first films of Haim Topol (fiddler on the roof, for your eyes only, etc). Beautiful comedy of a sefardic family immigrating to israel in 1949, nominated for Oscar in '69, for best foreign film, got golden globe for best foreign film and best actor. Technically far from perfect, but beautiful family comedy on culture shock and immigration.

2) Ervinka, B&W 1967, also with Haim Topol. Comedy about sabra, native born Israeli mentality. Story of a bum who dreams of winning on lottery and decides to rob the national lottery under disguise of making a film about the robbery of the lottery.

Rest of the films are color.

3) Blaumilch Canal (Te'alat Blaumilch), 1969, story of a lunatic with a obsession for digging holes named blaumilch who escapes from a asylum, steals a pneumatic drill and starts drilling a hole in center of Tel Aviv. Because of beurocratic mess, power fights between ministry of infrastructure and Tel Aviv municipality, municipality sends bulldozers to help (to beat the ministry with the "project" on their turf). One municipality junior official realizes that he the project was started by a lunatic and when he attempts to stop it he gets fired. Great satire on beurocracy. Nominated for Golden Globe for best foreign film.

4) Policeman (Shoter Azulai), 1970, Story of a naive Yaffo policeman who loves his work but is just too kind and naive man to be a policeman, but not stupid. During the film he shows encyclopedic knowledge of bible (he breaks up a ultra orthodox demonstration with a bible quiz), speaks several languages (French, Arabic and Hebrew), quotes classical Arabic poetry by heart, etc. His commanders want to lay him of, but don't have heart to do it. Local criminals decide to stage a crime so he can stay on his job because his shift is their most profitable time. Has some beautiful sequences, if you ask me, it is the best of the five. Kishon made this film after he loved Shai K. Offir's performance of policeman in Ervinke and Blaumilch Canal. Nominated for Oscar for best foreign film and got golden globe for best foreign film.

5) Fox in the chicken coop (Shu'al B'Lool Hatarnagalot), 1978, Satire about an old socialist politician Amitz Dolniker (last role by Shai k. Ophir), that is not capable of doing anything except speeches. After a heart attack he goes to rest in most isolated place he can find in Israel with his young assistant, a isolated village who's inhabitants still didn't find out that Turks left (50 years before). Even though the village has utopian socialist society, no private property, everyone works how much he wants and gets what he needs, Dolniker is upset that they didn't get to it by political evolution, so he starts elections, official positions, etc. In the end all the villagers become officials and beurocrats (while dolniker and his assistant do all the work) and start a civil war. It is not as good film as salah shabati, blaumich canal or shoter azulai, but it is a nice story and has many funny moments.

My favourite is Policeman (best Israeli film ever), after that come Salah Shabati and Blaumilch Canal. All 3 of those are a must see. Ervinke and Fox in chicken coop are also nice comedies, but can't compare with Policeman.

I agree with the previous review about the movies of Ephraim Kishon.

I especially agree with the judgment made about 'Ha-Shoter Azulai' 'Policeman Azulai'.

I also think it is one of the finest, if not the finest, Israeli movie I have seen.

Shaikie Ophir plays the policeman with sensitivity and understanding. The picture given of Israeli society is an honest, and true one. Many Israelis who came from so many different worlds appear 'simple ' on the outside but carry within them whole worlds of culture. The 'Shoter Azulai' is one.

His quiet dignity as a policeman, the way he reacts at news that he is to be fired the whole picture given of the surrounding poor and often criminal world, is done with taste and humor.

This is a beautiful bittersweet film, and by far the best of the lot.