A fascinating if not entirely successful experiment in filmmaking, this Israeli-made opus attempts to combine several genres: psychological drama, cat-and-mouse thriller, and socially aware black comedy, with a bit of musical extravaganza thrown in for good measure. Dangerous Acts tells the story of a beautiful Israeli actress named Zvia (Gila Almagor), who loses her husband, daughter, and son-in-law in a horrific car accident when truck driver Israel (Moshe Ivgi) loses control of his rig. After serving three years in jail for vehicular manslaughter, the guilt-stricken man goes to Zvia's home and begs for forgiveness—which she refuses to grant. But Israel won't give up, and his repeated pleas for absolution begin to take their toll on the embittered actress, who's currently starring in a macabre stage musical that might also be affecting her psyche. Writer-director Shemi Zarhin maintains a delicate balance, juggling the disparate elements of this weirdly compelling story with unusual dexterity, and while the changes in mood and style will annoy some, Dangerous Acts—a winner of seven Israeli Academy awards—has much to commend it to lovers of non-traditional cinema. Recommended. (E. Hulse)
Dangerous Acts
SISU, 97 min., in Hebrew w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.99, May 20 Volume 23, Issue 4
Dangerous Acts
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: