Ana Arabia

France, IsraelAmos Gitaï, Israel/France, 2013, 85 min, in Hebrew and Arabic with English Subtitles, Toronto Premiere Venice Film Festival 2014, in Competition, Grean Drop Award, SIGNI Award, Nominated for Golden Lion.

Yael, a young journalist, investigates the death of an Auschwitz survivor married to a Palestinian in a forgotten enclave in the southern suburbs of Tel-Aviv. As she visits the neighbourhood, she develops fascination with the story of the mixed couples and the Jews and Arabs who live together in harmony. Inspired by a true story and by the documentary trilogy Wadi, Amos Gitaï (Kadosh, Promised Land) took on a major challenge in making Ana Arabia by following the story in one uncut, always moving tracking shot. Blessed with rare fluidity and smoothness, the film (presented at Venice this year) makes a powerful case for cohabitation, harmony and sharing in a land scarred by conflict and war. It is also a tribute to the strength and courage of women, who are the true keepers of hope here.
CAST
Yael Yuval SCHARF
Yussuf Yussuf ABU WARDA
Miriam Sarah ADLER
Sarah Assi LEVY
Hassan Uri GAVRIEL
Norman Norman ISSA
Walid Shady SRUR
CREW
DIRECTOR Amos GITAI
SCREENPLAY Amos GITAI & Marie-José SANSELME
CINEMATOGRAPHY Giora BEJACH
STEADYCAM Nir BAR
SET DESIGN Miguel MERKIN
EDITING Isabelle INGOLD
SOUND DESIGN Alex CLAUD
COSTUMES Laura SHEIN
CASTING Ilan MOSCOVITCH
PRODUCER Michael TAPUACH, Amos GITAI, Laurent TRUCHOT
LINE PRODUCER Gady LEVY
PRODUCED BY HAMON HAFAKOT, AGAV HAFAKOT, AGAV FILMS