Amitim
48 min. Documentary Film
Director-Aran Patinkin
Producer-Miracle Productions
Music-Savion Ben Israel
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The film follows one group composed of four girls and one boy that were sent to the city Donyeck, medium sized city with about a million residents, whose livelihood in the past was mainly coal mining. Since the changes that took place in USSR part of the mines and other factories were shut, and many residents, Jews and non-Jews, were fired from their work. The members of project 'colleagues' became friends with the local community youngsters and they encouraged them to immigrate to Israel, taught Hebrew and English and helped in other communal life activities such as organization of holidays and events. The 'colleagues' dwelled in a mutual apartment downtown, that beyond the normal activities became a social center for young Ukraine that were interested in Israel and in Judaism. In the apartment developed a special life style. The film follows the life in the group, the difficulties, the crises, the love affairs and the special dynamics that developed in the course this year. Screened on Israel Education channel.
The film documents a project of the Jewish Agency in Ukraine called Amitim ('colleagues' in Hebrew). In the framework of this project youngsters from Israel and from North America traveled for a one-year mission to the Jewish communities throughout Ukraine. The Israelis that were in the group were after their military service and most of them had social duties in the army. Most of the North Americans in the group were college graduates and were engaged in communal work amongst their communities. The film follows one group composed of four girls and one boy that were sent to the city Donyeck, medium sized city with about a million residents, whose livelihood in the past was mainly coal mining. Since the changes that took place in USSR part of the mines and other factories were shut, and many residents, Jews and non-Jews, were fired from their jobs. The members of project Amitim befriended the local community youngsters and encouraged them to immigrate to Israel, taught them Hebrew and English and helped in other communal life activities such as organization of holiday parties and events. The Amitim members lived in a mutual downtown apartment that beyond the normal activities became a thriving social center for young Ukraine that was interested in Israel and in Judaism. The film follows the life of the group, the difficulties, the crises, the love affairs and the special dynamics that developed in the course of this extraordinary year.
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Tal is a sensitive Soul and Rock singer. This film follows the fearsome difficulties of the members of her band "The Exterminators" to break through into the Israeli rock world. The members of the band confront harsh personal and economic difficulties, but they do not give in. They go through endless rehearsals and put their life and soul into the band. Tal herself passes hardships in the course of the year: She goes through a painful separation from her boy friend and moves from the suburb Holon to the center of Tel Aviv. The loneliness and the pain lead her to try to integrate into the restless nightlife. Her way of life pulverizes her and leads her to deep despair. When she sings she expresses her pain as if she is singing from the depths of her womb. One day Tal reads an announcement that invites the public to an introductory lecture with a young and charismatic Rebai. Tal is exposed to Judaism and slowly begins to draw near to religion. The change that occurs in Tal shocks the band and starts an inevitable confrontation between Tal and her friends. Little by little the band dismantles. Tal asks her friends to take into consideration her new world values but they refuse. Eventually Tal becomes extreme orthodox, finds a groom, and marries. The scene that ends the film is a colorful wedding of Tal with Asaf, her chosen husband.