It seems the «Jewish experience» —that is, being of Jewish origins, and living "jewishly" according to this or that dogma— varies from country to country very much. I was born in a country (Panama) where almost all Jewish persons are economically powerful, do not mix with the average citizen, and live mostly for themselves behind tightly-closed walls. There are, of course, exceptions; but I had to travel abroad to have a different experience, even to have Jewish friends and lovers, and discover that not all are so closed to the humanity living close to them, as many that I have met in Panama. When I saw "El abrazo partido", one of the most endearing Latin American films that I had seen in years —besides another beautiful Argentine film called "El perro", announcing what was just about to come: a long list of new, remarkable filmmakers as Lucrecia Martel, Israel Adrián Caetano, Lisandro Alonso, and many others—, I was very well impressed and happy to see this different side of what it is to be a Jewish person in Latin America, because I could identify very much with them. Most of the times the cinematic Jewish experience comes from American filmmakers, and they keep on telling the same stories, or give them the same approach (exceptions admitted). For instance, with the weight world cinema has given to the Jewish drama during Second World War —and I am not by any means diminishing it—, I loved to see normal, beautiful people leading their everyday life in this motion picture, directed with both the brain and the heart, with top performances by Daniel Hendler, Adriana Aizemberg, Jorge D'Elía, and Rosita Londner as the grandmother, as well as all the supporting players. I can't explain how people can reduce the value of a motion picture, just because a few of the shots were not done with a tripod! Where have they been all these years? Camera movements were even very popular in the 70s. A movement done with the camera on the operator's shoulder, has a strong, different value to another one done with a steadicam! A very good movie, just as good as those I have enjoyed, done by sensible filmmakers from Israel that have shown me the best parts of their culture.
Review of Lost Embrace
