Alila

Director: Amos Gitai
Cast:  Yaël Abecassis, Uri Klauzner, Hanna Laslo, Ronit Elkabetz, Amos Lavie, Lupo Berkowitch, Liron Levo
Israel, France; 120’, 2003, color
Hebrew, English with Turkish subtitles

Up to now, old Schwartz led a peaceful existence, surrounded by Linda, a young Philippine woman who takes care of him, his neighbour Aviram who never goes out without his dog, and Mali, whose love affair with Ilan, on the other side of the courtyard, did not bother him much. But lately everything seems out of order. Every day, the building echoes with screaming and yelling. Is it because of Hezi, who has secretly rented an apartment to make love with his mistress Gabi, whose shrieks of pleasure bring all the neighbours out? Or is it because of the new neighbours who extend their apartment, unauthorised, by drawing on the courtyard? Even Mali is in trouble: the building contractor in charge of the work camps in front of her home with his Chinese workmen. He happens to be her ex-husband. On top of everything, their son Eyal has deserted... A chronicle of everyday life in a building situated on the border between Tel Aviv and Jaffa...