Assi Dayan Movies

Israeli director David Volach's chamber drama My Father, My Lord (aka Hofshat Kaits, 2006) provides an intense character study of a rabbi in an Orthodox neighborhood, whose letter-of-the-law application of Talmudic tenets takes an exacting toll on his life. He must thus grapple with the conflicting demands of his belief system and his familial obligations to his wife and child. ~ Nathan Southern, Rovi

Directed by Menahem Golan, Return From India centers inside of a chaotic Tel-Aviv hospital, where administrator Lazar (Assi Dayan) requests that a young surgeon named Dr. Rubin (Aki Avni) accompany him and his wife on a trip to India in hopes of rescuing his daughter, who had originally left for India in hopes of gaining spiritual enlightenment, but quickly found herself suffering from hepatitis. Though Lazar only wanted Dr. Rubin's presence for his medical expertise, it doesn't take long for a romance to develop between the surgeon and Lazar's wife, Dori (Riki Gal). ~ Tracie Cooper, Rovi

Issues of love, loyalty, and faith are set on a collision course in this award-winning drama. Rabbi Meltzer (Asi Dayan) is a respected Orthodox rabbi and leader of a yeshiva school in a remote section of the Judean hills. One of the Rabbi's favorite causes is returning Jerusalem's Dome of the Rock to the control of Israel -- a holy shrine in the ancient city that Moslems use as a mosque and Jews call Temple Mount. With this goal in mind, the Rabbi organizes a military unit comprised of his students, with military officer Menachem (Aki Avni) serving as an advisor. While Menachem agrees with Rabbi Meltzer in principle, especially since the Rabbi regards the group's activities as more symbolic than anything else, he and other military authorities are wary of his plan, believing the Rabbi's soldiers could easily turn into a fanatical terrorist group with the wrong twist of the political winds. One of the Rabbi's prize students is a frail young man named Pini (Edan Alterman), and Meltzer is fond enough of the lad that he's decided Pini should wed his daughter Michal (Tinkerbell). But while Michal respects her father, she has a mind of her own and no interest in marrying Pini. Instead, Michal has become infatuated with Menachem, but the officer refuses to go against the Rabbi's wishes; determined to follow her heart, Michal leaves home to strike out on her own. Pini is devastated by Michal's departure, and he becomes newly determined to make good within Rabbi Meltzer's military unit, while mapping out a secret plan with fellow student Itamar (Micha Selektar) in which they'll finally destroy the Dome of the Rock. Time of Favor won wide acclaim in Israel, earning six Israeli Academy awards, including Best Picture, and it was the nation's official entry for the 2000 American Academy Awards competition (though it failed to make it into the final field of nominees). ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

In recent years, the desire to make money has begun to overshadow the more humanistic idealism behind Israeli kibbutzim (collective farms or settlements in which residents shared everything from the raising and processing of crops to child rearing). At least that is what writer/screenwriter Nadav Levitan implies in this third entry in his fictional trilogy of the innovative cooperatives. The episodic film looks at different aspects of life on one such modern kibbutz. For most of their 40 years, bachelors Mordy and Simcha have been best friends, but now Simcha is planning to marry and Mordy's heart is broken. In another episode, an elderly widower learns the true depth of his love for his mentally retarded grown son. A third segment follows the dilemma of a young nurse who finds that her dead lover's father has fallen in love with her. Finally, a grieving mother is forced by the council to abandon the room that she has kept as a memorial for her dead son. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

This Israeli drama is based on Yaakov Shabtai's novel Past Continuous and tells the story of three men living in Tel Aviv. Caesar loves his wife and son; he is devastated that they have separated. Now he leads a miserable life in a run-down apartment shared with the sluggardly Israel, a dead-beat musician. Together the two set off to attend the funeral of their friend Goldman's father. Unfortunately, they cannot find the right cemetery. Later the story shifts to their complex love lives. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In general, one could say that Tel Aviv is where worldly Israelis go to play, and Jerusalem is where religious ones go to pray. In this tragic drama, the characters are all denizens of Tel Aviv's nightlife, and the action centers around an all-night bar owned by two women with difficult romantic relationships. The first owner is Dalia (Gila Almagor), who is the mistress of a film producer in ill health. The second owner is Leora (Irit Frank), whose policeman boyfriend Benny (Shuli Rand) can't stop tomcatting around. The bar is currently populated by the owners, some well-lubricated soldiers, Leora's boyfriend Frank, Riki (a mentally fragile woman who is "under doctor's orders" never to allow herself to be alone), a singer, some drug dealers, and the Arabs who work in the kitchen. Benny plays the hero at first by rescuing Riki (Avital Dicker) from the soldiers, but then he seduces her, with tragic results. More tragedy follows, as the crows of truth come home to roost. ~ Clarke Fountain, Rovi

For viewers who believe in the saving grace of military life, this routine film about seven women who join the Israeli army will be especially meaningful -- for viewers who don't, it won't. The seven women are all different, ranging from one who narrowly escapes a life of drug addiction, to another who is wealthy enough to buy the regiment and acts like it at first. As these women interact and respond to army discipline, they change -- and head toward a climactic use of their newfound skills.
~ Eleanor Mannikka, Rovi

Set in an Israeli maximum security prison, Beyond the Walls (Meachori Hasoragim) focusses on an ethnic "war" between rival prisoners. The opposing factions are headed by Israeli Arnon Zadok and Arab Muhamad Bakri. Insults beget violence, and before long the entire prison threatens to erupt in an orgy of bloodshed. What finally cools the tensions is so simple and touching that to reveal it here would spoil it for you. Suffice to say that the rival gangs decide to organize a united front against the cruelties of their captors. Beyond the Walls was nominated for a Best Foreign Picture Academy Award. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In this romantic comedy from the celebrated Hagashash trio, a former dance teacher assumes the role of cupid by scouring the daily obituaries and a young gas-station attendee longs to make a name for himself as a rock star. In addition to featuring music by the legendary Ofra Haza, The Hit is also the recipient of the Israel Prize for Lifetime Achievement. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

This thrill-packed fact-based action-adventure from Israel chronicles the daring rescue of 104 passengers from a hijacked plane in Entebbe, Uganda, on July 4, 1976. The film is also known as Entebbe: Operation Thunderbolt. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi