Ajami

Set in the volatile Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa, Israel, where Israelis, Arabs, and Palestinians live in a wary détente amidst crime, mistrust, and retribution, this film weaves together the experiences of several characters caught in the web of violence: Omar (Shahir Kabaha), an Israeli Arab teenager whose brother is targeted by gangsters; Malek (Ibrahim Frege), a Muslim illegal who works in the restaurant of an Arab Christian; Dando (Eran Naim), an Israeli cop whose student brother has gone missing; and Binj (co-writer/director Scandar Copti), an affluent Palestinian with a Jewish girlfriend. What begins as a familiar tale of the criminal world hurting everyone in its blast radius evolves into a nuanced portrait of life in a civilian war zone as the stories entwine. Copti (an Israeli Arab) and co-writer/director Yaron Shani (an Israeli Jew) use the structure to introduce the viewer to the different communities, looking at the events from distinctive perspectives, while drawing excellent performances from the nonprofessional cast. An Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film, Ajami offers an insightful and compassionate look at Israel's social divisions, without casting blame or making condemnations. A powerful drama, this is highly recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include a cast featurette (30 min.), deleted scenes (23 min.), a stills gallery, and trailers. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a fine foreign film.] (S. Axmaker)