Hatuna Meuheret (2001)

Zaza is a 31-year old Israeli bachelor, handsome and intelligent, and his family wants to see him married. But tradition dictates that Zaza has to choose a young virgin. She must be ... See full summary »

Director:

Dover Koshashvili

Writer:

Dover Koshashvili

Stars:

Lior Ashkenazi, Ronit Elkabetz, Moni Moshonov

18 wins & 8 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lior Ashkenazi	...	Zaza (as Lior Louie Ashkenazi)
Ronit Elkabetz	...	Judith
Moni Moshonov	...	Yasha
Lili Koshashvili	...	Lili
Aya Steinovitz	...	Ilana
Rozina Cambos	...	Magouly (as Rozina Cambus)
Simon Chen	...	Simon
Sapir Kugman	...	Madona
Dina Doron	...	Luba
Leonid Kanevskiy	...	Otary
Libia Hakmon	...	Margalita (as Libia Hakmon-Ayali)
Eli Turi	...	Bessik
Maria Ovanov	...	Lali
Orit Sher	...	(as Orit Buchnik Sher)
Rivka Gur

Storyline

Zaza is a 31-year old Israeli bachelor, handsome and intelligent, and his family wants to see him married. But tradition dictates that Zaza has to choose a young virgin. She must be beautiful and from a good family, preferably rich. Zaza's parents, Yasha and Lily drag Zaza to meet potential brides and their families. Zaza has no choice. He plays along with his family, advocates of the suffocating traditions of their Georgian Jewish heritage. But Zaza always manages to somehow get out of being engaged. What his parents don't know is that Zaza is already in love. Judith is sensuous, strong and intriguing. She's also a divorcée with a 6-year-old daughter. So Zaza has kept Judith a secret from his family. He will have to choose between respect of the strict confines of family and tradition, or the love of his life.

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Plot Keywords:

georgian | 31 year old | jewish | bachelor | female pubic hair | 

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Taglines:

Sometimes, love doesn't conquer all.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Unrated

Details

Country:

Israel France

Language:

Georgian Hebrew

Release Date:

28 June 2002 (USA)

Also Known As:

Casamento Arranjado

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$44,752, 31 May 2002, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,551,470, 1 December 2002

Company Credits

Production Co:

Arte France Cinéma,Centre National de la Cinématographie (CNC),Israeli Film Fund

Technical Specs

Runtime:

102 min 98 min (DVD)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The movie time is 1989 because Madonna writes in her diary the date 9.6.1989. Israeli car license plates from the 1980s are also visible.

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Quotes

Zaza: If that monster
[who suddenly came out of the sea and said, "I am God"]
Zaza: was able to convince my mother that love exists, I'd believe in him.

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Connections

Featured in A History of Israeli Cinema (2009)

User Reviews

A unique film

I thought this was an interesting film, though it didn't cover as much of the relationship between the guy and his family. As an ethnic Korean male, I can understand family pressure on marriage and to marry someone who will fit in. The good thing about the film was the end, as unlike most Hollywood fare, the ending was very realistic in that it didn't fall into cliche and the like. It presented the probable ending as opposed to the sentimental ending.

Three stars.