One tribe, many voices
Precious Life
Exploring the contemporary Jewish experience through cinema.
In Precious Life, pediatric oncologist Dr. Raz Somech describes the complexities of a bone marrow transplant. "There's a struggle between two elements which must live side by side and each has its own wishes and ambitions," he explains, "But only if they coexist they'll survive." His words are provocative, in the context of this film. Devised and directed by Israeli journalist Shlomi Eldar, Precious Life is the story of a Palestinian infant who must depend on an Israeli hospital, an Israeli doctor and an anonymous Israeli donor in order to survive.
The film follows the efforts of Dr Somech and his team as they give seemingly unbiased care to the baby Mohammad, questioning whether peace between Israel and Palestine might find its roots behind these hospital walls. Through interviews with Mohammad's mother, it seeks to explore the value of human life, which may be saved one day, only to be sacrificed in a suicide bombing further down the road.
Winning critical praise at both the Toronto and Melbourne International Film Festivals, Precious Life was shortlisted for Best Foreign Film at the 2011 Academy Awards. It returns to Melbourne in the coming weeks as part of the 2011 Jewish Film Festival; just one of the highlights in over two weeks of cinema celebrating the culture, history, drama and diaspora of the international Jewish community.
This year's festival features over twenty Australian premieres, including the arresting political documentary Comrade Goldberg, which focuses on the life of a Jewish anti-Apartheid activist, and the spicy romantic comedy Salsa Tel Aviv. Other highlights include Father, the controversial 1990 Australian film starring Max Von Sydow, screening from a fully restored print, and Tiffany Shlain's acclaimed 2005 short The Tribe, which takes a whirlwind journey through the many faces of Judaism.
The 2011 Jewish Film Festival opens today and runs until Sunday 27 November.
Published Thursday, 10 November 2011
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