Rotten Tomatoes
Cancel Movies Tv shows Shop News Showtimes

Aliyah

2012 1h 27m Comedy Drama List
83% Tomatometer 6 Reviews 54% Popcornmeter 100+ Ratings
A low-level Jewish drug dealer (Pio Marmaï) tries to save enough money to leave Paris and join his cousin in Israel, but his older brother's constant demands -- and a new love interest -- jeopardize his plans.
Watch on Fandango at Home Buy Now

Where to Watch

Aliyah

Critics Reviews

View All (6) Critics Reviews
Gary Goldstein Los Angeles Times It's the kind of serious, thoughtful, yet accessible portrait we see all too little of these days. Rated: 4/5 Jun 19, 2013 Full Review Stephen Holden New York Times Far from being the Promised Land, Israel represents a shaky new beginning in a country Alex barely knows. This smart, sober movie makes you feel the full weight of the challenges he faces. Rated: 4/5 Jun 13, 2013 Full Review Elizabeth Weitzman New York Daily News Wajeman introduces some unexpected elements, which he handles with surprising dexterity considering this is his feature debut. Rated: 3/5 Jun 13, 2013 Full Review Nora Lee Mandel Film-Forward.com Refreshing portrait, mostly free of idealism, religion, and stereotypes, of how a troubled, secular young Parisian struggles. . .to change his life. . . [but] seems passive. Rated: 7/10 Jun 21, 2013 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

View All (9) audience reviews
Audience Member The story is about Alex, a 27-year-old Jewish drug dealer in Paris who, at a family gathering, meets his cousin who has returned from Israel after completing his military service, with grandiose plans to open a restaurant in Tel Aviv. Alex wants to leave his life in Paris and join his cousin, but he must first emigrate to Israel, and bring 15 grand in money (which currency?) with him. Of course emigrating to Israel, even for a Jew, is not so simple. Having had no interest in his Jewish roots, he now has to learn the Hebrew language and find evidence of his Jewishness to be allowed to enter Israel, and he has to raise the money. The latter fact is complicated by an older brother who keeps asking for money from him, and with meeting a woman who falls in love with him and wants him to stay. On the plus side, we are kept guessing what will happen until the end. On the minus side, the movie is slow and overlong, and the ending is abrupt and weak. Still the idea is intriguing. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/22/23 Full Review Audience Member This started off good, turned to boring... and finally "when is this going to end"? Rated 2 out of 5 stars 01/17/23 Full Review Audience Member Really good film but I'd say the ending let it down - would've like to have learned more about his life there and what happened to Jeanne. Pio was amazing as usual! :) Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 01/30/23 Full Review Audience Member Too flat, too mild for my appetite. Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/04/23 Full Review Audience Member The dialogues need more work, the cast is not what it should be, the story is very predictible. I like the simplicity of the shots and the naturalism. All this is quite young but keep going! Rated 1.5 out of 5 stars 02/26/23 Full Review Audience Member Refreshing realism with great storylines concerning crime, family, etc. Good movie. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/24/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Aliyah

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW

Cast & Crew

In the Courtyard 71% 48% In the Courtyard Hippocrates 75% 67% Hippocrates Nobody Else but You 84% 67% Nobody Else but You As Luck Would Have It 38% 48% As Luck Would Have It Mental 44% 55% Mental Discover more movies and TV shows. View More

Movie Info

Synopsis A low-level Jewish drug dealer (Pio Marmaï) tries to save enough money to leave Paris and join his cousin in Israel, but his older brother's constant demands -- and a new love interest -- jeopardize his plans.
Director
Elie Wajeman
Producer
Lola Gans
Screenwriter
Elie Wajeman, Gaëlle Macé
Production Co
Auvergne Rhône-Alpes Cinéma, 24 Mai Productions, France 2 Cinéma, Les Films Pelleas, Wallpaper Productions
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
French (France)
Release Date (Streaming)
Mar 17, 2017
Runtime
1h 27m
Most Popular at Home Now