Haarucha (The Dinner)

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Independent Israeli film which gets some way there but leaves a rather underwhelming impression.  Matti Harari and Arik Lubetzky are the directors and screenwriters of a film basically featuring five people (two couples and a friend) in which their relationships become intertwined.  

Grigory and Emma are Russian immigrants who are finding life in Israel a struggle.  They have to do menial work and can’t seem to get a break let alone think about having a family. Emma is sexually harassed at work and ends up becoming a live model and attracting the attention of Alon, a businessman who paints on the sideline.  Alon and his wife, a therapist called Yael, are going through a tough patch so unsurprisingly Alon makes a move on Emma.  Meanwhile his best friend Amnon (Ishai Golan) has designs on Yael.  

Gregori ends up getting a job in Alon’s firm and all this culminates in a tense dinner.

Almost a chamber piece which may work better as a play, it is not a bad film and throws some light on the plight of immigrants to any country but beyond that has little more to say.  Keren Peles, who is a singer, does very well in her first role as Emma.

2 stars plus

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