Kazablan (1974)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Menahem Golan

Writers:

Menahem Golan (writer)
Haim Hefer (writer)

Release Date:

28 March 1975 (Finland)

Genre:

Musical

Plot:

An embittered gang leader seeks the respect of his neighbors and the love of a young woman.

Plot Keywords:

Israelis | Sephardic | Shoes | Hoodlum | Nudity

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Golden Globes.

Cast

Yehoram Gaon	...	Kazablan
Efrat Lavi	...	Rachel
Arieh Elias	...	Moshiko
Etti Grotes	...	Maryuma
Yehuda Efroni	...	Mr. Feldman
Gita Luka	...	Mrs. Feldman
Aliza Azikri	...	Singer
Yossi Graber	...	Yanush
Misha Asherov	...	Josh
Abraham Ronai	...	Sarevsky
Ya'ackov Ben-Sira	...	Mr. Spiegel (as Yaacov Ben-Sira)
Gabi Ohad	...	Mrs. Spiegel
Chaim Banai	...	Mr. Shimon
Geula Yeffet	...	Mrs. Shimon
Yaacov Timan	...	Russian Neighbor

Also Known As:

Kazablan (USA)

Runtime:

122 min

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

Finland:K-12 | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Jaffa, Israel

Company:

Noah Films

Movie Connections:

Version of Casablan (1964)

Soundtrack:

Ani Kol Kach Pochedet

Relatively Good "Mood" Film

"Kazablan" is, simply put, a film that runs more closely akin to a dream sequence or rapid visual/audio/sensory montage than a linear-constructed primarily plot-driven piece. In some respects, the camera's tendency to wander almost randomly to various individuals, locales, and scenarios somewhat resembles a Monty Python "The Meaning of Life" form. (Although certainly no comparison, beyond the superficial visual image, is being promoted.)

To differentiate the quality of performances of the actors is irrelevant in a film with "Kazablan"'s qualities; certainly, the acting is respectable, but the characters are nearly all background to the foreground of the Israeli surroundings' atmosphere. (More specifically, very noticeably 1970's Israel.) In addition, the mood is sustained very well throughout the picture.

The intriguing question is simply, What is this film truly about? Is it a coming-of-age story for a young man disenchanted with his post-military service life? Or is it an anti-prejudice statement, albeit a simplistic and superficial one? Ultimately, as discussed earlier, such plot contrivences (to the credit of the filmmakers; they certainly made the correct decision not to overplay certain obvious stances the movie does indeed adopt), are unimportant in "Kazablan."

Once again, it is a "mood" film, or a film abundant with atmosphere -- and it should be treated as such. Any attempt to impart a diagectic quality on the part of the viewer is a clear error. ("Kazablan" is not, however, a slice-of-life picture. For an excellent example of such a film [and also to compare the overt differences between a slice-of-life and a mood movie], view "Nobody's Fool," the 1994 piece starring Paul Newman, Melanie Griffith, and Bruce Willis.) Simply watch Kazablan with one objective: Relaxation.