It all starts lightly on a note of romance: beautiful weather, beautiful landscapes, beautiful young people in an Israeli Kibbutz. But this is not gonna last. Behind the romance, there is drama and destruction, destruction because of the hidden and not-so-hidden passions of the characters - present or missing - and destruction because the story is set in the middle of an absurd war. Sophie Marceau and Richard Berry are a powerful couple in a powerful movie.
4 Reviews
Excellent music and photography - rather a shocker for me !
nicholas.rhodes18 March 2006
Warning: Spoilers
Parisians Richard Berry and Sophie Marceau have left France and moved to live on an Israeli Kibbutz. One day, in early June 1967, three male friends from Paris turn up unexpectedly to visit them. Another girl, Myriam, also a member of the group and who had also loved Richard Berry in the past, has already committed suicide. One of the three male visitors, having felt unrequited love for Myriam, holds Sophie Marceau responsible for her death and intends to make a speech on the subject and drive the nail home on Sophie Marceau's birthday. Two of the other male visitors are vying for the love of Sophie Marceau, but in vain for her heart is in Richard Berry's hands. All this seems all so insignificant when, in 1967 the first explosions of the six day war hit the area.
I most of all loved this film's soundtrack, especially the magnificent SHELEG-AL-IRI ( Snow falls on my city ) by Naomi Schemer. The photography, sets and kibbutz atmosphere is very well rendered and these are the main strong points of the film. For someone who has never seen the Israeli countryside and heard Israeli music, it is quite an eye opener.
The viewer is lulled into a sense of tranquility and exoticism to such a point that when war strikes, he/she is completely taken by surprise, even though we know something is in the offing and military vehicles are never far away.
Most of the characters speak French, which seems completely out of place in a place like Israelwhere you would expect the characters to speak Hebrew or possibly a little English. This appears implausible and detracts from the believability of the film.
Nevertheless I have viewed the film about 4 times and like it a little more on each viewing. Apart from Marceau and Berry, the other actors were unknown to me. It should be stated that Arcady has a reputation for making films set in mediterranean countries such as Algeria.
I'm sorry to put a damper on things but would warn would-be viewers that the final scenes of the film are VERY distressing and I admit having to turn my face away from the TV on several occasions. People who do not like to see the damage done by war to human beings should avoid this film, if not they will be very upset by what they see. This contrasts markedly with the easy-going, lighthearted kibbutz atmosphere in the first half. There is notably an anguishing few minutes when the troops enter the city of Jerusalem and touch the Wailing Wall.
The film is now ( Sept 2007 ) available on a DVD in France with a reasonably good print copy, but unfortunately lacking in subtitles except when hebrew is spoken and French subtitles occur. The notable novelty in the DVD issue is a second disc which is none other than the WHOLE CD OF THE SOUNDTRACK. Yes, you heard correct ! If only DVD's included the soundtrack on cd more often !! All in all for 15 euros you can't complain.
Anyone interested in Israel, its countryside, kibbutzes and its music should find pleasure in this film, but as I said will probably find the final scenes distressing.
I most of all loved this film's soundtrack, especially the magnificent SHELEG-AL-IRI ( Snow falls on my city ) by Naomi Schemer. The photography, sets and kibbutz atmosphere is very well rendered and these are the main strong points of the film. For someone who has never seen the Israeli countryside and heard Israeli music, it is quite an eye opener.
The viewer is lulled into a sense of tranquility and exoticism to such a point that when war strikes, he/she is completely taken by surprise, even though we know something is in the offing and military vehicles are never far away.
Most of the characters speak French, which seems completely out of place in a place like Israelwhere you would expect the characters to speak Hebrew or possibly a little English. This appears implausible and detracts from the believability of the film.
Nevertheless I have viewed the film about 4 times and like it a little more on each viewing. Apart from Marceau and Berry, the other actors were unknown to me. It should be stated that Arcady has a reputation for making films set in mediterranean countries such as Algeria.
I'm sorry to put a damper on things but would warn would-be viewers that the final scenes of the film are VERY distressing and I admit having to turn my face away from the TV on several occasions. People who do not like to see the damage done by war to human beings should avoid this film, if not they will be very upset by what they see. This contrasts markedly with the easy-going, lighthearted kibbutz atmosphere in the first half. There is notably an anguishing few minutes when the troops enter the city of Jerusalem and touch the Wailing Wall.
The film is now ( Sept 2007 ) available on a DVD in France with a reasonably good print copy, but unfortunately lacking in subtitles except when hebrew is spoken and French subtitles occur. The notable novelty in the DVD issue is a second disc which is none other than the WHOLE CD OF THE SOUNDTRACK. Yes, you heard correct ! If only DVD's included the soundtrack on cd more often !! All in all for 15 euros you can't complain.
Anyone interested in Israel, its countryside, kibbutzes and its music should find pleasure in this film, but as I said will probably find the final scenes distressing.
Released in North America on NTSC VHS videotape......No DVD Release....
marceaufilms10 January 2009
Warning: Spoilers
This film was released on NTSC VHS videotape in North America by France FILM Distribution in 1992 with the French title..... POUR SACHA ....It had a small distribution in Quebec and the French speaking areas of Eastern Canada and the northeastern USA....There is no DVD version......It was released in French Language with no English Subtitles.....It is no longer In Print and is rarely seen in French Canadian video stores.....the Ex-Rentals are generally poor quality and and the original tape has often been replaced.....Good luck in finding one with "Good" Picture Quality........It was released with a French language jacket with a photo of Sophie Marceua on the front and 3 photos on the back of the jacket.........Directed by Alexandre Arcady and stars Sophie Marceau, Richard Berry, w/ Emmanuelle Riva ....the run time of the North American release is 1 hour 55 minutes...............FOR SACHA......Sophie Marceau, who is not Jewish, abandons her aspirations of becoming a concert violinist to be with her Jewish French philosophy professor on an Israeli kibbutz......beautiful weather, beautiful landscapes, beautiful young people in an Israeli Kibbutz......behind the romance there is drama and destruction set in the middle of an absurd war...
Amazing and touching movie, forget the other review
schmoeli-schick26 February 2014
All due respect to my only fellow reviewer on this movie, but the fact that he says it takes place during an 'absurd' war, shows he either knows nothing of history or its significance. The story is a romantic story first and foremost, set in Israel before 1967, discussing French Jews coming to visit their two friends in Israel. Israel back then was weak compared to the Arab states, and halfway in the movie, the six day war starts. 7 Arab nations declare war on Israel together, with their combined manpower outnumbering the Israelis more than 20 to 1 and similar ratios for both planes and armor. Yet Israel, with one of the main characters being a soldier fights a heroic and brilliant war and wins a lot of territory from the Arab aggressors in the span of only Six Days!! While, like I mentioned before this is mainly a love story, it is set in a both frightening and glorious time in Israel's history and is a beautiful and very emotional movie for anyone who understands what Israel's history looks like. Very HIGHLY recommended, please watch, I guarantee you will enjoy, and please rate this movie higher once you've seen it, because it deserves a lot better!!
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