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3/10
Archivist John
Senior Editor
A definitive 3/10 rating for a film that redefined the boundaries of cult cinema. Aviv B'Eretz Yisrael remains a cornerstone of transgressive art.
I sat down to watch Aviv B'Eretz Yisrael because I was in a weird mood for something really old. If you like seeing how people used to dress when they were doing back-breaking labor in the heat, this is definitely for you.
Anyone who needs a plot or people talking should probably stay far away from this one. It is not exactly Anne of Green Gables with its cozy stories and dialogue.
It’s more like a long, flickering postcard. The grain on the film is so thick in some parts it almost looks like it’s snowing in the desert. 🌵
Ya'ackov Ben-Dov was the guy behind the camera and you can tell he was really proud of what he was seeing. He spends a lot of time just looking at tractors and new buildings.
There is this one shot of a man with a shovel that goes on for way too long. I think he was trying to look heroic but he just looks tired.
I found myself staring at the background more than the main subjects. You see these little kids running around who have no idea they’re being recorded for history. 👶
It reminds me a bit of Armenia, the Cradle of Humanity under the Shadow of Mount Ararat because it just wants to show you a place that feels far away. Both films feel like they are trying to prove something to the world.
The pacing is pretty slow, even for a silent movie. I actually checked my phone twice during a scene about irrigation pipes.
But then there are these moments of total clarity. Like when the sun hits the dust just right and you forget you're watching something from a hundred years ago.
Joseph Gal-Ezer shows up too, but honestly, everyone kind of blends together in those baggy clothes. It’s hard to tell who is who when everyone has the same mustache.
I noticed a dog in the corner of one frame that looked very confused by the camera tripod. That dog is probably the most relatable thing in the whole movie.
The film doesn't have the tension of something like Scared Stiff. It’s just... there. It exists to show you trees being planted and houses being built.
Some of the editing is a bit jumpy. One second you're in a field and the next you're looking at a bunch of people dancing in a circle. 💃
I guess they didn't care much about smooth transitions back then. They just wanted to get the footage in the box.
It’s a bit dry, like the land it’s filming. If you aren't a history nerd, you might find it boring as hell.
I liked it though. It felt like I was snooping on someone's private memories.
It’s much better than some of the other random stuff I've seen lately, like Dumb Luck. At least this feels real.
The movie ends kind of abruptly. It just stops, and you're left sitting there in the silence of your own living room. 🏠
I think I’ll remember the way the light looked on the water more than any of the people. It’s a strange little piece of time.
IMDb 5.9
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