Moshe Mizrahi Movies
An assistant director in French films by the late '50s, Mizrahi helmed his first feature in Israel, Le Client De La Morte Saison, in 1969. He scored his greatest successes with the Simone Signoret dramas La Vie Devant Soi (aka Madame Rosa) and Chore Inconnu (aka I Sent a Letter to My Love); Mizrahi's other notable films include the romantic dramas La Vie Continue and Every Time We Say Goodbye. ~ All Movie Guide
- 1996
Offering a richly detailed and carefully researched view of Jerusalem at the turn-of-the century, this romantic drama depicts a time when the city was a haven for both Arabs and Jews and tells the story of a barren wife who makes a great sacrifice by allowing her husband to take a second wife while still married to her. It's not that Rebecca does not love her husband Jacob, a prominent Sephardic rabbi. She would do anything to make him happy. Unfortunately, after 15 happily married years, she has not conceived a child. Though Jacob's love, devotion and support has remained unwavering, Rebecca has been chastised by her neighbors and her mother-in-law into believing that she has failed her husband. To this end, she suggests that Jacob marry a young virgin so that he may continue his family line. Jacob is reluctant, but eventually gives in. At first the odd union works out, but in time, Rebecca finds herself becoming jealous of the new bride and this creates considerable turmoil. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1988
French/Israeli filmmaker Moshe Mizrahi wrote and directed this adapation of the fanciful comic novel by Albert Cohen. Set in 1938, it tells the farcical story of a band of five French speaking Greek Jews who seek to have their status as self-appointed ambassadors of a Palestinian Zionist state recognized by the League of Nations in Geneva. The five are played by veteran French comic actors Pierre Richard, Bernard Blier, Jacques Villeret, Jacques Dufilho and Jean-Luc Bideau. The film follows their rambling odyssey from their native Greek island to Marseilles to Geneva, where they involve a Polish Jewish immigrant (played by actor/singer Charles Aznavour in their scheme. Among the five would-be ambassadors, Richard has the showiest part as the blustery title character. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Pierre Richard, Charles Aznavour, (more)
In this romantic drama set during World War II, David (Tom Hanks) is an American pilot serving with the Royal Air Force. While recovering from an injury in Jerusalem, David meets Sarah (Christina Marsillach), whose best friend is engaged to David's squadron leader. David and Sarah become fast friends and soon find they've fallen in love. However, Sarah's family are Sephardic Jews who are not enthusiastic about her seeing an American, particularly one whose father is a Protestant minister. While David and Sarah want to see their romance through, her family is just as determined to stop it, to the point of barricading her inside her room. Every Time We Say Goodbye marked the first English-speaking film role for Spanish star Christina Marsillach. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Hanks, Christina Marsillach, (more)
- 1985
- PG
Based on an autobiographical novel by Jack Eisner, this wartime drama of survival covers almost too much territory within its short telling, often giving the impression that something has been left out. Jacek, who is Jewish, miraculously manages to survive World War II in Nazi-occupied Poland. Director Moshe Mizrahi brings forward the reality of the Warsaw ghetto, the deportation of Jews to death camps, and the terror that reigned for the war years in Poland by placing Jacek at crucial points in the narration as the observer of key historical events. As a subplot to Jacek's story, which also involves a love affair with Haling (Kyra Sedgwick) and German soldiers' repeated attempts to kill him, is a tale of how young kids in the Warsaw ghetto devise their own method of fighting oppression. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sebastian Keneas, Kyra Sedgwick, (more)
- 1981
A lightweight, sentimental story, a middle-aged French couple remember their courtship and the beginnings of their romance. ~ Tana Hobart, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ariane Larteguy, Patrick Norbert, (more)
- 1981
- PG
Based on the novel by Bernice Rubens, I Sent a Letter to My Love stars Simone Signoret as a woman who has reached middle age without truly learning how to live. Responsible for the constant care of her paraplegic brother Jean Rochefort, Signoret seeks a brief respite from her confinement by inaugurating a pen-pal relationship with a man she has never met. Gradually, Signoret falls in love with her mystery correspondent, a love that is apparently reciprocated. No, we will not divulge the ending. Also featured in I Sent a Letter to My Love is cult favorite Delphine Seyrig. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, Jean Rochefort, (more)
- 1981
- PG
In this French melodrama, the unexpected, untimely death of her husband leaves Jeanne (Annie Girardot) struggling to come to terms with the implications of her new life and take care of her three children. Filmed in French, this movie is available with English subtitles or dubbing. ~ Iotis Erlewine, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Annie Girardot, Jean-Pierre Cassel, (more)
- 1977
Madame Rosa (Simone Signoret) is an aging former prostitute who, in her dotage, makes a living by caring for the children of other prostitutes in Paris' Arab community. Haunted by memories of her experiences in a Nazi concentration camp, Rosa is seized with the notion that the Gestapo is still after her. She thus begs one of her young charges (Samy Ben Youb) not to give away her "hiding place." Madame Rosa was based on Momo, a novel by one Emile Ajar (better known as Romaine Gary). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Simone Signoret, Claude Dauphin, (more)
- 1975
The great Biblical romance between Jacob and Rachel provides the basis of this costume drama. The trouble begins when the young woman's stern father demands that they wait seven years before they wed. On the blessed day the wedding occurs and that night the union is consummated. The next day, Jacob discovers that Rachel's homely sister is the bride behind the veil and that he has impregnated her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
In this Israeli comedy, a father is afraid that after having sired eight daughters, that he will never produce a son. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- 1973
While Egyptian-born director Moshe Mizrahi is best known for such popular European films as Madame Rosa (1977), I Sent a Letter to My Love (1981), and La Vie Continue (1981), he scored his first cinematic successes in his adopted homeland of Israel. Mizrahi was 15 years old when he emigrated to a kibbutz in what was then known as Palestine. Likewise 15 years old is Sami, the young protagonist of Mizrahi's 1973 film The House on Chelouche Street, which takes place in 1946 Tel-Aviv. Sami's day-to-day efforts to provide for his family are placed in context with the ongoing struggle to establish the State of Israel. One of the most intensely personal of historical films, House on Chelouche Street was nominated for the "Best Foreign Picture" Academy Award. Its featured players include such Israeli film luminaries as Shai K. Ophir, Gila Almagor, and actress-director Michal Bat-Adams. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1972
This Israeli romantic drama chronicles the love of Nissim for Rosa (Michel Bat-Adam), Nissim's widowed sister-in-law. Under (very old) Jewish religious law, Nissim has the duty and obligation to marry his brother's spouse on the death of his brother. Nissim (Gabi Oterman) is very fond of Rosa, and grows to love her. However, he is only eleven, and newly single Rosa is not interested in either child-rearing or remarriage, so she shoos him away. Quite a few years later, Nissim (Moshe Tal) comes back with marriage in mind. Their conflicts and growing love resolve in a satisfying conclusion. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide
- 1970
A young man from France is tormented by a former Nazi plagued with guilt over his involvement in torture during World War II. Taking a room at a seaside resort in Israel, the traveler is unaware of his host's history of war crimes. He has an affair with the attractive wife of the proprietor. The German has disturbing flashbacks of victims dying in his hideous torture chamber. Soon the young man falls victim to the flashbacks of the former Nazi. Claude Rich is the French traveler, with Christian Blech the deranged hotel manager. Henia Suchar plays his adulterous wife in this slow moving mystery. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Claude Rich, Henia Suchar, (more)
- 1970
Celine (Bernadette Lafont) is a free-spirited woman who marries a dull, middle manager named Philippe (Michel Duchaussoy) in this comedy drama. The union results in her being pegged as a household ornament for her husband by her husband's coworker. She makes friends with a woman who shows her how to juggle the couple's living expenses to get whatever material goods she desires. When the couple entertains the coworker and his wife, the drunken men suggests they swap wives. Celine strips the man and makes him look at himself in a mirror to prove he is not desirable. Celine turns to painting and writes papers on the inequity between genders as she asserts her independence and gradually frees herself from her husband's claustrophobic world. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Bernadette Lafont, Michel Duchaussoy, (more)
