They say that a drunk scene is often a sign that the scriptwriter didn't have the skill to make the characters show their inner traits and feelings in the course of normal activity. So what about a film where the main character is stoned throughout? What's odd about _Shavua ve Yom_ is that the character, a recently bereaved father, is supposed to be grief-stricken and could be forgiven for pretty much all his odd behavior anyway on that basis. But the industry has a weakness for movies that show older people behaving in a way that doesn't befit their age-- robbing banks, pursuing once- forgotten dreams, what have you. It's a gimmick, a double gimmick in this case (stoned, and too old to be a stoner), and for too much of the movie it takes the place of a plot. There is no great threat or quest to drive the action forward, and although there are quirky details and sudden gags, they don't come thick and fast enough to keep up a momentum. No one told the actors they were in an uninteresting movie, though, and they chalked up national Best Actor and Best Actress nominations, with a win for Best Supporting Actor. There were also Best Director, Best Editing, and-- what's this?-- Best Screenplay nominations. Well, there were touches of Best Screenplay quality, but gaps between them too.
Review of One Week and a Day
