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Tel Aviv on Fire

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1:52

Tel Aviv on Fire

Released Aug 9, 2019

1h 37m

Comedy

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

89%

Tomatometer

63 Reviews

86%

Popcornmeter

Fewer than 50 Verified Ratings

Salam, a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, works on a popular soap opera. He gets ideas for the show from the commander at the check point he passes through each day, and his career takes off.

Critics Consensus

Thoughtful and well-acted, Tel Aviv on Fire highlights the awful absurdity of war -- and proves it's possible to find humor in the midst of cultural conflict.

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Jamie Ludwig

Chicago Reader

A lightweight but smart combination of satire, drama, and rom-com.

Mar 13, 2020

Full Review

Nora McGreevy

Boston Globe

One spoiler: Tel Aviv does not burst into flames. But Salam's career might.

Rated: 3/4

Aug 15, 2019

Full Review

Scott Marks

San Diego Reader

Alas, the potential for sharp political satire takes a back seat to small screen spoofery, nudging this more in the direction of Soapdish, rather than Joe Dante's transcendent The Second Civil War.

Rated: 2/5

Aug 10, 2019

Full Review

Pablo De Vita

La Nación (Argentina)

Entertaining but superficial... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 2/5

Dec 8, 2022

Full Review

Ezequiel Boetti

Otroscines.com

The film achieves a balance between plot levity and a rich context... [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 3.5/5

Dec 7, 2022

Full Review

José C. Donayre Guerrero

EscribiendoCine

Utilizes dramedy and romance to dig into people's idiosyncrasies and showcase the sociopolitical context of its setting. [Full review in Spanish]

Rated: 6/10

Dec 7, 2022

Full Review

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Paul S

Great movie and the lighter side of the mideast crisis...

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

09/03/19

Full Review

Debra P

Tel Aviv on Fire is a superb film. I think that it has taught me more about the fraught Israeli/Palestinian nightmare than anything else that I have read or come into contact with. The acting is superb (and how about the dreamboat Israeli commander Yehuda!!!, the dialogue is sharp & pointed, and the message resonates deeply. Or as the main character (can we call him a hero?) says: 'Is there something between surrender & bombs?' //. The writers & directors are to be deeply commended for allowing our hearts to be moved, using humor & 'real life' to enter into a political morass.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

08/09/19

Full Review

Audience Member

PERFECT SUMMER FILM! A comedy, drama, and soap opera, dusted with authenticity and tucked into 100 mins of pure entertainment.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Robson C

Salam é um jovem palestino que trabalha na produção da série televisa Tel Aviv Em Chamas, sucesso tanto entre os palestinos quanto entre os israelenses. Devido a uma confusão na barreira que tem que atravessar para voltar para Jerusalém, ele conhece Assi, comandante daquele lugar e fã da série, que não está feliz com os rumos da produção. Ele passa então a exercer pressão para que ocorram mudanças. Salam se torna roteirista e passa a equilibrar os interesses de todos: de Assi, do seu tio, criador da série, da atriz principal, do restante do elenco, dos patrocinadores, além dos seus próprios. É uma comédia com um roteiro muito inteligente, em que ao mesmo tempo apresenta os bastidores de uma produção televisa de sucesso, também encaixa com sucesso todo o sentimento dos habitantes daquela região, sejam palestinos ou israelenses. Como em um determinado momento que um personagem palestino é chamado de terrorista pelo comandante Assi e de herói por Salam. Um retrato ligeiro e um pouco mais leve da situação da região, com o diretor, em vários momentos, apresentando diálogos onde cada um dos lados expõe seu rancor pelo outro.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

10/01/23

Full Review

luca b

Interessante lo sfondo della vita in Palestina, dei check point, della difficoltà della vita quotidiana. La storia in sè senza infamia e senza lode, il protagonista poco empatico, non ti trovi a stare dalla sua parte.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

lanfranco c

A light and funny way to show a complex problem.

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Sameh Zoabi

Director

Kais Nashif

Salam

Lubna Azabal

Tala

Yaniv Biton

Assi

Maisa Abd Elhadi

Mariam

Nadim Sawalha

Bassam

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Tel Aviv on Fire: Trailer 1

1:52

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Synopsis

Salam, a Palestinian living in Jerusalem, works on a popular soap opera. He gets ideas for the show from the commander at the check point he passes through each day, and his career takes off.

Director: Sameh Zoabi
Producer: Amir Harel, Bernard Michaux, Miléna Poylo, Gilles Sacuto
Screenwriter: Dan Kleinman, Sameh Zoabi
Distributor: Cohen Media Group
Production Co: Lama Films, Samsa Film, Artémis Productions, TS Productions
Genre: Comedy, Drama
Original Language: Arabic
Release Date (Theaters): Aug 9, 2019, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 24, 2019
Box Office (Gross USA): $504.4K
Runtime: 1h 37m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital
Aspect Ratio: Scope (2.35:1)

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