Time of Favor

Time of Favor
Directed by Joseph Cedar
Produced by David Mandil
Eyal Shiray
Written by Joseph Cedar
Starring Aki Avni
Tinkerbell
Idan Alterman
Assi Dayan
Abraham Celektar
Music by Jonathan Bar-Giora
Cinematography Ofer Inov
Edited by Tova Asher
Distributed by Blue Dolphin Film Distribution Ltd.
Release dates
 November 30, 2000 (Israel)
Running time
 102 min.
Country Israel
Language Hebrew

Time of Favor (in Hebrew, Ha-hesder) is Israeli writer-director Joseph Cedar's 2000 debut film, starring Aki Avni. The film plays out a psychologically complex love triangle in the middle of terrorist conflict in Israel's West Bank.

The New York Times called it an "art house thriller," [1] and the Los Angeles Times said it was "one of the most successful contemporary Israeli films." [2]

Plot

In Time of Favor Manachem, a handsome, stoic soldier in the Israeli Defense Force, is offered his own unit, made up of fellow students from Rabbi Meltzer’s West Bank Yeshiva. At the same time, Rabbi Meltzer plays matchmaker with his daughter, Michal, and star student Pini. It’s no surprise that Michal, strong-willed and independent, prefers Manachem’s silent strength to Pini’s over excitement. The love triangle knots up and the political tension raises throughout the film until everyone’s allegiances are tested in the end.

“This land of Israel is bought with pain,” says Michal, the Rabbi’s pale and skinny much desired daughter, as she looks out on the sandy mountains of the West Bank. Romantic love and patriotic love are both full of pain in Cedar's film.

Set in Israel, Time of Favor moves from the country's barren desert to a secret underground tunnel system. The characters bathe in underground pools, run through 1800 year-old catacombs, and pray on large spreads of earth, where the barren nature impresses a sense of solemnity.

Cedar’s Zionist upbringing is apparent in this highly religious film. Time of Favor handles the Holy Land with high regard and maintains a sense of solemnity throughout. The importance of prayer and tradition is stressed. Soldiers dressed in full uniform break from their training to open prayer books and raise their minds to God. The Rabbi’s religious position marks him as a strong authority in his community. He is trusted and respected, and his students, with total faith in him, follow his every wish.

Cast

Reception

Time of Favor met with mixed reviews. The film's complex depiction of Israel was generally praised. Cedar, an Israeli, offers an insider's unique, nuanced look at his homeland. While he's mildly critical of the settlements in the West Bank, he remains respectful towards the religious who live there. The Los Angeles Times gave the film a glowing review, calling it "intensely contemporary," [2] and the San Francisco Chronicle described the film's "balanced, reflective and reasonable," [3] tone.

The Village Voice said Time of Favor was a "flawed but engrossing thriller."[4] There's a sort of tunnel vision that neglects the Palestinians, but the fact that an Israeli is a terrorist makes the film "exotic." [4]

Awards

Time of Favor won five awards from the Israeli Film Academy Awards in 2000:

Time of Favor was nominated for six Israeli Film Academy Awards in 2000:

Time of Favor was nominated for a Peace Award from the American Political Film Society in 2003, and won the Audience Award from the Washington Jewish Film Festival in 2001.

Notes

  1. ↑ Holden, Stephen. "Time of Favor (2000)". New York Times. Retrieved August 8. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1
    • Turan, Kenneth (February 1, 2002). "Time of Favor". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 8 August. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ↑ LaSalle, Mick; Edward Guthmann (March 1, 2002). "Last Orders". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 8. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 Hoberman, J. (January 16, 2002). "Rite What You Know". Village Voice. Retrieved August 8. Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

References

External links