Halome Ami: A haunting, scratchy ghost story

Is it worth your time?

If you're a fan of cinema history or just like weird, ancient footage that feels like it’s barely holding onto reality, then yes. Watch it. If you need a plot that moves at a brisk pace or decent audio, skip it entirely. You’ll probably hate it if you get annoyed by scratches on the film or silence where there should be dialogue.

There is something deeply unsettling about seeing Yossele Rosenblatt here. You know, going in, that this is the final time he’s on camera. It gives every frame a weird, heavy feeling that the movie didn't even intend. It just exists.

The pacing is non-existent. It’s just a series of moments pulled together by a thread I couldn't quite find. Sometimes the camera just lingers on a face for way too long. Like, 'okay, we get it' long.

The bits that stuck

• The way the light hits the landscape in Palestine looks almost like a painting that’s been left out in the rain.
• Zvee Scooler is there, doing his thing, but honestly, my eyes kept drifting back to the background extras.
• The audio quality is... well, let’s call it 'atmospheric' if we’re being generous. It crackles like a campfire.

It’s funny how some movies try so hard to be 'important' and fail, while this one just sits there. It doesn't care if you understand it. It just shows you what was there in the moment. It makes me think of The Circus of Life in a weird way—just a bunch of people trying to exist in front of a lens before the lights go out.

There’s a scene about halfway through—or maybe it was the end? Honestly, the timeline feels like it’s melting—where everything just goes quiet. No music. Just the grain of the film pulsing. It felt more like a ghost story than a documentary.

I wouldn't call this a 'good' movie by any standard measure. It’s barely a movie at all. But it’s definitely something. It’s raw in a way that feels like a mistake, and I sort of love that about it. 📽️