Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film, Ajami comes to American theatres with a stark depiction of what culture clash is like in the Middle East.  I liked the film because it gets into the grit of crime, confrontation, discrimination and hatred that can make life a hell. Well acted, directed and presented, Ajami is a must-see for adults.

The powerful crime drama is set on the streets of Jaffa’s Ajami neighborhood – a melting pot of cultures and conflicting views among Jews, Muslims and Christians – and told through the eyes of a cross-section of the city’s inhabitants: a young Israeli (Shahir Kabaha) fighting a criminal vendetta against his family, a Palestinian refugee (Ibrahim Frege) working illegally to finance a life-saving surgery, a Jewish police detective (Eran Naim) obsessed with finding his missing brother, and an affluent Palestinian (Scandar Copti) dreaming of a future with his Jewish girlfriend. As their stories intersect – and the film’s narrative shifts back and forth in time – we witness a dramatic collision of different worlds and the tragic consequences of enemies living as neighbors.

Directors Copti and Shani make their characters believable, controlling them with a strong hand and extracting performances from their fine cast that are truly pressure perfect.  I liked the way they handled the subject matter, not overstating, with just enough pathos to make the drama work.  Their control of the cinematography in Ajami is blunt and convincing, capturing the challenges to which each of the characters is subjected. 

To choose one standout performance is impossible in Ajami.  Each of the main ethnics is well represented by Kabaha, Fregi, Naim and Copti.  The ensemble cast, which also included the directors of the film, share equally in the kudos.

The film is unrated and contains violence, language and drug use.

FINAL ANALYSIS:  A very good film that’s an eye opener for Western Civilization.

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