Escaping Tel Aviv-Welad Ela’am (2009)

Directed by: Sheri Arafa | 125 minutes | action, drama, thriller | Actors: Sherif Mounir, Mona Zaki, Karim Abdel Aziz

Egyptian films are not an everyday occurrence in Dutch cinemas. We regularly see films about the difficult relationship between Israel and its neighbors. Because these films usually come from the Palestinian or Israeli arthouse corner, the general public is not familiar with fine works such as ‘Paradise Now’, ‘Laila’s Birthday’, ‘Lemon Tree’ or ‘Waltz with Bashir’. Although Israel is portrayed as the biggest culprit in those films, the picture that is painted is fairly nuanced. It would almost make you optimistic.

With the release of ‘Escaping tel Aviv’, that optimism can go straight back into the trash. This Egyptian public film portrays Israel and its inhabitants in a completely ridiculous way, so ridiculous that you initially think of a parody. Opposite the beautiful and courageous Egyptian heroine Salwa (who almost knocks down at the sight of an Israeli flag) is her savvy Jewish husband. He kidnaps and shoots and cheats and pulls one nasty trick after another. And he is fine with Palestinian children being killed. He literally explains that over the phone.

Obviously, that murderous husband must symbolize present-day Israel. But ordinary Israelis also get off badly in this film. They are corrupt, they discriminate (even each other) and they are never completely trustworthy. And they’re all named Daniel or Sarah or Rachel. And they’re all ugly as night.

Unfortunately, the artisanal quality of ‘Escaping Tel Aviv’ doesn’t make it any better. The screenplay is full of holes, the dialogues are soapy, the music is horrific, visually there is nothing to enjoy and the acting is not over either. For an action lick there is remarkably little action in the film and the few fight scenes always come out of the blue.

It must have to do with the Egyptian success that this remarkable film also got a Dutch release. It cannot be due to the substantive or craft qualities. There are none. What there is is an infantile propaganda soap that would make you spontaneously become a Zionist. But that was probably not the intention.