Search - Yom Yom on DVD

"Do You Remember The Old Buildings?" ~ Hypertensive Living I

Brian E. Erland | Brea, CA - USA | 12/12/2008

(2 out of 5 stars)

"Synopsis: Moshe is an insecure, hypertensive, middle-aged, married man living in Haifa, Israel. Everything about his life is depressing. He is constantly at odds with his wife Didi, he hates the thought of fulfilling his countries mandatory military requirement and appears to have no source of income, at least nothing that is made clear to the viewer. He wanders about all day eating at a variety of cafés, visiting his parents' bakery, hanging out with his childhood friend Jules, or participating in an ongoing affair with an attractive younger woman named Grisha. Moshe is never happy, never relaxed and always worried about his health.



The people surrounding him are just as miserable and untrustworthy as he is. His wife is sleeping around as is his girlfriend and best friend. I found it all but impossible to form any attachment or sympathy for any of the characters in this movie, except maybe Moshe's parents. As you watch our little hypertensive friend try to work through his trials and tribulations (whether real or imagined) the viewer can only hope that some measure of resolve will be obtained by the end of the film. Well, if that's what you're waiting for you're obviously not familiar with Amos Gitais' work.



Critique: Here in the '98 Israeli film `Yom Yom' writer/director/actor Amos Gitai presents the second installment of his City Trilogy. Though the location has moved from Tel Aviv to the port city of Haifa, the pervading sense of lose, hopelessness and existential devastation is as evident in this film as it was in the '95 release `Devarim'. Another reoccurring theme carried over from `Devarim' is the theme of the "lost generation" which has somehow forgotten it's connection to its past, both culturally and spiritually. A generation set adrift now living for a brief moment of physical pleasure wherever and whenever it can be found all the while aware that life could end at any moment. Indeed a sad commentary on the state of contemporary secular angst in the Holy Land."