Like many recent Israeli films, 'Ajami' succeeds to illustrate the enormous ethnic and cultural complexity of the country, with an authentic, non-trained cast to boot. I'd say it's a must-see for anybody interested in the Middle East, because it presents a view into Israeli society that is all too often obliterated by politics.
Focusing on the low-income, ethnically mixed neighborhood of the same name, 'Ajami' describes a number of interwoven relationships, touching petty crime, revenge killings, labor extortion and police corruption. The only weak point is that on top of these everyday occurrences, the film uses the disappearance of an Israeli soldier as a central plot device; while this may be a real risk, it's not an everyday occurrence as the other incidents described and therefore feels a bit forced.
Other than that, 'Ajami' has a very special, raw, authentic feel to it, especially in its first hour, when it spreads out in so many different directions that it becomes difficult to follow, but never obscure. Only in the end, when the directors try to reconnect the threads of their stories, it takes a bit of a dive.
If you allow yourself to be captivated by 'Ajami''s atmosphere and don't focus to much on the plot, you're in for a real treat.
Focusing on the low-income, ethnically mixed neighborhood of the same name, 'Ajami' describes a number of interwoven relationships, touching petty crime, revenge killings, labor extortion and police corruption. The only weak point is that on top of these everyday occurrences, the film uses the disappearance of an Israeli soldier as a central plot device; while this may be a real risk, it's not an everyday occurrence as the other incidents described and therefore feels a bit forced.
Other than that, 'Ajami' has a very special, raw, authentic feel to it, especially in its first hour, when it spreads out in so many different directions that it becomes difficult to follow, but never obscure. Only in the end, when the directors try to reconnect the threads of their stories, it takes a bit of a dive.
If you allow yourself to be captivated by 'Ajami''s atmosphere and don't focus to much on the plot, you're in for a real treat.