Dancing Arabs
Starring Tawfeek Barhom, Michael Moshonov, Danielle Kitsis
Directed by Eran Riklis
Taking its title from the Israeli expression “dancing at two weddings” – which describes the predicament of Israeli Arabs who must constantly weave their way through two distinct cultures – the latest feature from Eran Riklis (The Syrian Bride) has its own impressive balancing act to pull off. After initially trading in pointed comedy, this adaptation of Sayed Kashua’s novel soon sends its young protagonist on increasingly tragic trajectory. Fortunately, Riklis never puts a foot wrong, allowing what could be construed as a calculated parable to instead assume the form of an intimate character study.
When we’re introduced to Eyad (an impish Razi Gabareen) as a devout Arab boy, he’s rebellious – weathering corporal punishment rather than waiver from his stance – and exceedingly bright – with a particular aptitude for riddles and puzzles. However, when he’s accepted into a prestigious Jerusalem boarding school as a teenager (and is now played by the more soulful Tawfeek Barhom), he finds no ready solutions for the rampant anti-Arab sentiment. Befriending Yonatan (Michael Moshonov) – a kindred outcast due to his debilitating muscular dystrophy – and embarking on a secret affair with Jewish classmate Naomi (Danielle Kitsis), Eyad grows increasingly emboldened. In turn, he comes to realize that his heritage and his very identity might become casualties in his fight for acceptance.
With warplanes soaring overhead in its opening minutes and subsequent scenes frequently backed by a soundtrack of newscasts concerning skirmishes in the region, the spectre of violence hangs over every second of the proceedings. However, the most riveting conflicts are all internal, as Eyad’s bearing reveals the tremendous toll of the compromises demanded of him. That these sacrifices are in the name of such seemingly modest gains ultimately makes the climax of Riklis’ film that much more compelling.
