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Tel Aviv on Fire

Play trailer 1:52 Poster for Tel Aviv on Fire 2019 1h 37m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
Watchlist 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.

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Tel Aviv on Fire

Tel Aviv on Fire

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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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Critics Reviews

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Jamie Ludwig Chicago Reader 03/13/2020
A lightweight but smart combination of satire, drama, and rom-com. Go to Full Review
Nora McGreevy Boston Globe 08/15/2019
3/4
One spoiler: Tel Aviv does not burst into flames. But Salam's career might. Go to Full Review
Scott Marks San Diego Reader 08/10/2019
2/5
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. Go to Full Review
Pablo De Vita La Nación (Argentina) 12/08/2022
2/5
Entertaining but superficial... [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
Ezequiel Boetti Otroscines.com 12/07/2022
3.5/5
The film achieves a balance between plot levity and a rich context... [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
José C. Donayre Guerrero EscribiendoCine 12/07/2022
6/10
Utilizes dramedy and romance to dig into people's idiosyncrasies and showcase the sociopolitical context of its setting. [Full review in Spanish] Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Paul S 09/03/2019 Great movie and the lighter side of the mideast crisis... See more Debra P 08/09/2019 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. See more 08/03/2019 PERFECT SUMMER FILM! A comedy, drama, and soap opera, dusted with authenticity and tucked into 100 mins of pure entertainment. See more Robson C 10/01/2023 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. See more luca b 09/03/2021 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. See more lanfranco c @Lanfrancobz 03/15/2020 A light and funny way to show a complex problem. See more Read all reviews
Tel Aviv on Fire

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Movie Info

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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