Every member of this moving family drama begins alone, each suffering in his or her own way from the sudden loss of the husband/father. The youngest child, just entering kindergarten wets the bed (with help from her older brother). The brother is mostly angry and silent, courting danger by leaping into an empty pool from increasing heights. The 17 year old sister is having trouble at school and has written an achingly tender song about her father's demise which she is trying to sing in a competition when the film opens, only to be called away by her mother who needs her to babysit so she can go to work. Her brother, apparently her twin, has dropped out of school altogether and taken a job as a handbill dispenser, wearing a mouse costume. The mother is depressed and crushed by the burden of providing for her family. The story shows convincingly how each of the five finds a way back to the family through a near fatal accident to the younger brother when one of his jumps goes awry. The mother, Orly Sibersatz Banai, and the two older children, Maya Maron and Natai Gaviratz, are utterly convincing. Nir Bergman made this film with a small grant from the Israeli government. He has certainly demonstrated that millions of dollars are not required to make a superior film. However, millions may be needed to hire well-known actors and to enter distribution channels that will bring in a sizable audience. Too bad because this film is far superior to most Hollywood fare and even to the smaller independent films that reach their audience through art houses. Find it -- if you can. Knowledge of Hebrew is not required. The subtitles are fine.
Review of Broken Wings
