Last June we profiled Eretz Nehederet, the Israeli Saturday Night Live. Now they've really outdone themselves, bringing to the big screen a lavish satire that is being compared to Monty Python's Life of Brian.
It's called Zohi Sdom in Hebrew, This is Sodom in English. Actually, there is no English soundtrack, but English subtitles have now been added so English-speaking audiences can join in the fun.
The film was a blockbuster when it opened in Israel last year, with 100,000 tickets sold in the first four days. It's a spoof set in the city of Sodom. The cast, performers from Eretz Nehederet, portray the original Sin City with its gambling, orgy-obsessed culture complete with shopkeepers hawking non-kosher food, including a goat in its mother's milk, DVDs to be watched on Yom Kippur, and pushing elders out of their wheelchairs.
If you remember the story of Abraham and Lot from Beresheet (Genesis), you'll recognize all the familiar players, with some unorthodox changes. God is portrayed as a salesman trying to push Judaism on Abraham, and the angels sent to destroy Sodom are motorcycle cops.
So now it's finally coming to New York (it was shown in Los Angeles last October and will be in Miami after the New York showings) as one of the films in the Israeli Film Festival from March 31 through April 14. Locations and show times have not yet been announced, so check their web site for up-to-date information.
The festival is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Its founder is Meir Fenigstein, once well known as Poogy, the drummer for the legendary Israeli rock band Kaveret. For over two decades, Fenigstein has worked hard to raise awareness about Israel’s cultural diversity and cinematic creativity.
We'll keep you posted on other screening venues and DVD and Netflix availability as soon as the producers provide us with updates. In the meantime, here's the trailer for you to enjoy.
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What I love are the things that are almost private jokes - they're so fast: part of the movie selection for Yom Kippur (as you've captured in the above screencap) is Halehakah ("The Band") - a film starring most of the guys from Kaveret. And the wife who complains in English that she'd be bigger than Beyonce if she hadn't married him, in Hebrew recites the Chad Gadya. Looks like fun. But of course, that's what they used to say about Sodom.
ReplyDeleteFunny, I immediately noticed the difference between the chad gadya and the subtitles as well :) -- Jack
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