Serving up a satirical look at Israel's mandatory military service, Zero Motivation puts a unique spin on the office comedy. Here, female non-combatants run errands and bicker like other cubicle drones, but the action takes place in a remote desert outpost that feels like high school due to gossip, crushes, and jockeying for position. Director Talya Lavie divides the story into three chapters. In the first, Daffi (Nelly Tagar) believes that her request for a transfer to Tel Aviv has been approved when new recruit Tehila (Yonit Tobi) joins the staff. Daffi teaches her replacement the paper-shredding ropes, except that Tehila hasn't come for work, but for more personal reasons, which puts a damper on Daffi's relationship with fellow slacker Zohar (Dana Ivgy). Rama (Shani Klein), their commanding officer, finds both of the latter to be exasperating. In the next chapter, Zohar sets out to lose her virginity, but her gloomy Russian roommate, Irena (Tamara Klingon), puts a crimp in her plans. In the finale, Daffi returns to the camp after officer training and still hopes for a transfer, but first has to deal with Zohar. Once the best of friends, they are now the worst of enemies, especially after Daffi attempts to delete Zohar's favorite video game from all of the office computers (leading to a battle royale with staple guns and window blinds). An extremely well-cast film that plays like a female answer to Office Space in which boredom and isolation lead ordinary folk down some very strange paths, this Israeli hit film is recommended. (K. Fennessy)
Zero Motivation
Zeitgeist, 100 min., in Hebrew w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $29.95 Volume 30, Issue 5
Zero Motivation
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