Joseph Cedar's wonderful "Campfire" affirms what one had already known: the quality of Israeli films. As he demonstrates with this heart wrenching tale that involves a recently widowed woman, at a crucial moment of her life, "Campfire" shows a director that is in touch with the situation he is presenting us.
The Gerlick household is not the most pleasant place to be. Rachel, the mother, has lost her husband about a year ago. Esti, the oldest of the two daughters, is having an affair with a young soldier. Tami, the youngest girl, who is at the center of the story, is clearly lost and not being able to cope, or make sense of all what's happening around her.
Rachel is fixed by a friend on a blind date with the shy Yossi, a middle aged man who is the owner of a bus. Their first date at a Chinese restaurant is pleasant, but we don't see sparks fly between them. Yossi is a lonely man who has gone on a lot of similar dates, never ending with a woman of his own, much less a wife.
Tami, the youngest daughter is awakening to sexuality. She is a shy girl who has never done anything wrong and suddenly finds herself at the center of attention from the teen age boys who are up to no good and want to have fun at her expense. At the campfire, a group of boys taunt Tami into doing things she is not prepared for and she is horrified when horrible things are written on the walls of her house deeming her a common prostitute, when in reality nothing has happened.
Rachel finally gets enough courage to confront the leaders of the new development where she would like to relocate with the girls because she realize that she is not wanted and it's the children of some of these people who are responsible for the cruelty toward Tami. After calling Yossi for help on a few occasions, it's clear that he has fallen for Rachel and is accepted by the girls.
The film is bitter sweet with great appearances by the four principals. Michaela Eshet is wonderful as Rachel. Moishe Ivgy has such a noble face, that just one look at him, one realizes this is a decent man who will make anyone happy because he has a lot to give after not having known love in his life. Young Hani Furstenberg is also appealing as Tami and Maya Maron, who was excellent in "Broken Wings" plays the older Esti.
Congratulations to Joseph Cedar and his team for a wonderful, heart-felt film about real people in a real situation.
The Gerlick household is not the most pleasant place to be. Rachel, the mother, has lost her husband about a year ago. Esti, the oldest of the two daughters, is having an affair with a young soldier. Tami, the youngest girl, who is at the center of the story, is clearly lost and not being able to cope, or make sense of all what's happening around her.
Rachel is fixed by a friend on a blind date with the shy Yossi, a middle aged man who is the owner of a bus. Their first date at a Chinese restaurant is pleasant, but we don't see sparks fly between them. Yossi is a lonely man who has gone on a lot of similar dates, never ending with a woman of his own, much less a wife.
Tami, the youngest daughter is awakening to sexuality. She is a shy girl who has never done anything wrong and suddenly finds herself at the center of attention from the teen age boys who are up to no good and want to have fun at her expense. At the campfire, a group of boys taunt Tami into doing things she is not prepared for and she is horrified when horrible things are written on the walls of her house deeming her a common prostitute, when in reality nothing has happened.
Rachel finally gets enough courage to confront the leaders of the new development where she would like to relocate with the girls because she realize that she is not wanted and it's the children of some of these people who are responsible for the cruelty toward Tami. After calling Yossi for help on a few occasions, it's clear that he has fallen for Rachel and is accepted by the girls.
The film is bitter sweet with great appearances by the four principals. Michaela Eshet is wonderful as Rachel. Moishe Ivgy has such a noble face, that just one look at him, one realizes this is a decent man who will make anyone happy because he has a lot to give after not having known love in his life. Young Hani Furstenberg is also appealing as Tami and Maya Maron, who was excellent in "Broken Wings" plays the older Esti.
Congratulations to Joseph Cedar and his team for a wonderful, heart-felt film about real people in a real situation.