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Cinema Sabaya

Play trailer 1:49 Poster for Cinema Sabaya 2023 1h 32m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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86% Tomatometer 14 Reviews 99% Popcornmeter 500+ Ratings
A group of Arab and Jewish women attend a video workshop at a small town community center run by Rona (Dana Ivgy, Zero Motivation), a young filmmaker from Tel Aviv, who teaches them to document their lives. As each student shares footage from her home life with the others, their beliefs and preconceptions are challenged and barriers are broken down. The group comes together as mothers, daughters, wives, and women living in a world designed to keep them apart, forming an empowering and lasting bond as they learn more about each other... and themselves. Inspired by writer-director Orit Fouks Rotem's own experiences as a teacher, Cinema Sabaya presents a deft and heartfelt portrait of art's capacity to unite disparate communities, moving effortlessly between the gravity of their conversations and the genuine joy of this unlikely group of friends. Israel's Official Submission to the 95th Academy Awards and winner of five Ophir Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress (Joanna Said).

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Cinema Sabaya

Critics Reviews

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Robert Abele Los Angeles Times 02/24/2023
The old classroom concept of show-and-tell becomes a richer, deeper exercise for a workshop of Arab and Jewish women in Israeli filmmaker Orit Fouks Rotem’s heartfelt feature debut “Cinema Sabaya.” Go to Full Review
Kyle Smith Wall Street Journal 02/10/2023
Cinema Sabaya, a quietly affecting little film about unexpected connections and unseen sorrows, shimmers with a bright optimism about how people might overlook one another’s differences if only they took a little time to learn about each other. Go to Full Review
Beatrice Loayza New York Times 02/09/2023
The film resides in the porous boundary between fiction and reality... enriched by naturalistic flair that eschews didacticism. Go to Full Review
David Bax Battleship Pretension 11/16/2023
Cinema Sabaya is as much a film about filmmaking as it is about national and religious identities. Go to Full Review
Rubén Rosario MiamiArtZine 05/30/2023
It ought to be fun, a film about a group of Israeli and Arab women from different walks of life brought together to take part in a video production workshop. So how come the results feel like eating your veggies? Go to Full Review
Sr. Rose Pacatte St. Anthony Messenger 04/14/2023
Cinema Sabaya is a parable about our common humanity and for people and communities who live in conflict. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Filmfan 02/13/2023 Compassionate and realistic - very moving and thought-provoking film! See more minnie b 02/12/2023 It was a very moving, humorous and poignant film. It felt like a documentary but then I realized it couldnt be. Loved all the different women and their stories and the way they cared for and encouraged and challenged each other. See more Chris J 03/21/2023 MOVIE REVIEW Cinema Sabaya – Genre: Drama Year Released: 2023 Runtime: 1h 31m Director(s): Orit Fouks Rotem Writer(s): Orit Fouks Rotem Cast: Dana Ivgy, Joanna Said, Amal Murkus, Ruth Landau, Yulia Tagil, Marlene Bajali, Aseel Farhat, Orit Samuel, Liora Levi, Khawlah Hag Debsy Language: Hebrew, Arabic w/English subtitles Where To Watch: will open in New York on February 10 at the Quad Cinema and in Los Angeles on February 24 at the Laemmle Royal, with national expansion to follow. RAVING REVIEW: Orit Fouks Rotem's directorial debut is a testament to cinema's transformative power. It follows a group of women from diverse backgrounds as they come together for a videography workshop at a community center in a small town. The film masterfully delves into their complexities and explores motherhood, financial independence, and self-discovery themes. The film was reminiscent of last year's Oscar-nominated documentary WRITING WITH FIRE, not entirely because of the subject but more because of the thrill of learning and adventure throughout the film. This film was born from Rotem's experience and the inspiration she drew from her mother's participation in a photography course that brought together Arab and Jewish women. Rotem's firsthand knowledge of similar programs in cities like Acre and Givat Haviva is evident in the film's portrayal of these women's lives. Casting was a crucial aspect of the film, and Rotem chose women whose personal stories aligned with the central themes. The use of non-professional actresses only adds to the film's emotional impact, making it a raw and intimate look at women's lives. Again, making the film feel like a documentary at times. Its demonstration of the art of cinema's ability to bring people together is a triumph and a must-see for any film lover. Israel submitted it as their official entry for the 95th Academy Awards. The film shines a light on Rotem's exceptional talent as a filmmaker and showcases cinema's power to challenge societal norms and break down barriers. It is a film that will leave a lasting impact and inspire and engage audiences for years to come. Whether you are a seasoned film buff or a newcomer to the cinema, this film is a must-watch. For more reviews and my YouTube channel, please visit linktr.ee/Overlyhonestmoviereviews Follow me on Letterboxd, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. Find my social media accounts on most platforms simply by searching Overly Honest Movie Reviews. I'm always happy to hear from my readers; please say hi or send me any questions about movies. See more Gonzalo 02/18/2023 Awesome what a take was it fiction or reality? See more Read all reviews
Cinema Sabaya

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Movie Info

Synopsis A group of Arab and Jewish women attend a video workshop at a small town community center run by Rona (Dana Ivgy, Zero Motivation), a young filmmaker from Tel Aviv, who teaches them to document their lives. As each student shares footage from her home life with the others, their beliefs and preconceptions are challenged and barriers are broken down. The group comes together as mothers, daughters, wives, and women living in a world designed to keep them apart, forming an empowering and lasting bond as they learn more about each other... and themselves. Inspired by writer-director Orit Fouks Rotem's own experiences as a teacher, Cinema Sabaya presents a deft and heartfelt portrait of art's capacity to unite disparate communities, moving effortlessly between the gravity of their conversations and the genuine joy of this unlikely group of friends. Israel's Official Submission to the 95th Academy Awards and winner of five Ophir Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Supporting Actress (Joanna Said).
Director
Orit Fouks Rotem
Screenwriter
Orit Fouks Rotem
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters)
Feb 10, 2023, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 13, 2023
Box Office (Gross USA)
$69.5K
Runtime
1h 32m
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