Sallah

Audience Reviews

View All (11) audience reviews

Audience Member I loved this movie it is genuine Authentic Funny and hopeful Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/26/23 Full Review Audience Member After the founding of Israel in 1948, a lot of jewish citizens in arab countries where forced out of their home land where they have lived for over thousands of years, to the only place where they could find no more harm, Israel. Many of the arab jewish refugees who arrived to Israel was placed in refugee camps named ma'abarot, where the living conditions was not any better than the place they left. This is just temporary as part of a housing project to provide houses for the refugees. But there's once that have been in the camps for years without getting a house. In 1964 the Yemenite Jewish family, Shabati, arrives at Tel-Aviv airport. The father, Sallah Shabati (Topol) used to work as a Shoemaker, but in the camp he only is offered to do agricultural work like planting threes. Sallah is a lazy man who is bound by his traditions and laws, and spend most of his time at the local bar. He don't like this state of mind he wants to live in a house, but a house cost as much as 800 lire. So Sallah tries every possible easy pulled scams he can think of to get the money. What's makes Sallah Shabati so funny is all the stereotypes of an undeveloped third world country where Shabati is from. His view on women, his laziness and his arrogance. His rustic appearance is hilarious, in that way that he don't know anything about how people shall act in a so called "civilized society". This film also takes up conflicts between Mizrahi and Ashkenazi Jews (Middle-eastern and European Jews). A society where Mizrahi is looked down upon by the wealthy Ashkenazi Jews, and this only confirm Israel as a western country. The always enchanting Chaim Topol just makes a great Sallah Shabati, he's a comical genuis because of the character's stubbornness and ethnic traditional background. He's as stubborn and unpleasant as Michel Simon characters in Boudu Saved from Drowning and L'Atalante. But's he's also have the same backward charm as Borat, with all kinds of unthinkable charades that suddenly appears. Sallah Shabati wasn't a great success in the beginning where it was panned by most Israeli film critics and politician, mostly because of it's stereotypical portrayal of the immigrants but also a stereotypical portrayal of the politician themselves when Shabati have let himself bride by all political parties in favor of his vote. But Sallah Shabati was extremely well received by the audience and by foreign critics. And it become the first Israeli Oscar nominee for best foreign film. And Chaim Topol become a international star, and seven years later he would star as another lovable character named Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof. So if you fell in love with Tevye the milkman you will certainly fall in love with Sallah Shabati as well. Thumbs up. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/08/23 Full Review Audience Member It's very interesting that I watched this film recently, mainly because it could be really relevent to the situation in Israel right now, regarding immigration. "Sallah Shabati" is a very warm-hearted comedy, which just tells the story of one man who wants to be successful in his new home, and for his family to be safe as well. Jews all over the world are starting to movie into the new state of Israel, including one man and his family, from Morocco. Topol plays the father, and though he isn't the sharpest tool in the shed, he still means well. His goal is to have everlasting happiness in Israel, and he will do anything to get it. He lives in the local village for new immigrants, and he works his way up. It's an interesting concept, and it puts things in perspective to Israel's immigration situation. The acting is pretty good, and it's a good blend of humor, and a little drama in all the right places. Topol was pretty excellent. Throughout the entire movie, he really did impress me. Sure he made me laugh a bunch of times, but when he got upset, that really made me tear up. He truly was a good actor. The rest of the cast is pretty good as well. It's not a phenomenal picture, but it really has a good message. The entire movie had this great entertainment value, mainly regarding the personalities of all the characters. It really was a treat to watch. I recommend "Sallah Shabati." Rated 3.5/5 Stars •  Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 02/02/23 Full Review Audience Member סטריאוטיפי ברמה קשה, מה שגורם לסרט להיות קצת מתיש ברגעים מסוימים, אבל קשה מאוד שלא ליהנות ולצחוק ממנו. בשורה התחתונה- אם לא לוקחים קשה את העיצוב הסטריאוטיפי של הדמויות ופשוט זורמים עם ההומור- זה מתכון לא רע להנאה. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member This stars Topol, who played Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" - he is just as charming here. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 02/21/23 Full Review Audience Member a somewhat praised movie, for reasons unknown. Rated 1/5 Stars •  Rated 1 out of 5 stars 02/27/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Sallah

My Rating

Read More Read Less POST RATING WRITE A REVIEW EDIT REVIEW