Circus Palestine

1998 Israeli film

26 November 1998 (1998-11-26)

Running time

83 minutesCountryIsraelLanguageHebrew

Circus Palestine (Hebrew: קרקס פלשתינה, translit. Kirkas Palestina) is a 1998 Israeli political satire film directed by Eyal Halfon, which was nominated for seven Israeli Film Academy Awards, winning five.^[1] The film was selected as the Israeli entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 71st Academy Awards, but was not accepted as a nominee.^[2]^[3]

Plot

A Russian circus arrives on the West Bank during the intifada. The war rages, the circus acts perform and a lion escapes in the middle of the night. An Israeli officer falls in love with the lion tamer and helps her search for it. They encounter the absurdities of life living under a military occupation. Though an unlikely plot, it was based on a true story.^[4]^[5]

Cast

Yoram Hattab as Shimshon Bleiberg
Jenya Dodina as Marianna Stasenko
Amos Lavi as Colonel Oz
Vladimir Friedman [he] as Circus Boss
Bassam Zuamut as Ibrahim
Rinan Haim as Lugassi

Reception

Won 5 awards from the Israeli Film Academy Awards:^[1]

Best Actor - Yoram Hattab
Best Actor - Amos Lavi
Best Film
Best Music - Shlomo Gronich
Best Screenplay - Eyal Halfon

References

^ ^a ^b "Circus Palestina". Israel Film Center. Manhattan, New York: Jewish Community Center. Archived from the original on 6 December 2015. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ Margaret Herrick Library, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
^ "45 Countries Submit Films for Oscar Consideration". Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. 19 November 1998. Archived from the original on 19 February 1999. Retrieved 20 October 2015.
^ Leaman, Oliver, ed. (2001). Companion encyclopedia of Middle Eastern and North African film. London: Routledge. pp. 281–282. ISBN 0-203-42649-5. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
^ ""Circus Palestina" Wows L.A. Moviegoers". Washington Report on Middle East Affairs. March 1999. pp. 103–104. Retrieved 1 July 2015.