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people & arts Thursday 1 March 2018
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Review: Israeli family/military drama ‘Foxtrot’ is a stunner

By LINDSEY BAHR
AP Film Writer
Watching the Israeli film
“Foxtrot “ is like watching a
dream play out.
Writer-director Samuel
Maoz’s (“Lebanon”) excel-
lent film is of course more
structured than the aver-
age dream (or nightmare),
with themes and Greek
tragedy twists that are ex-
pertly crafted to test the
heart, but there is a precise
sensation of out-of-body
powerlessness and comic
absurdity throughout that
can only be described as
dream-like. And the overall
experience is a meditative
and powerful one.
The story is ostensibly about This image released by Sony Pictures Classics shows Lior Ashkenazi, left, and Sarah Adler in a scene from “Foxtrot.”
a man, Michael Feldma- Associated Press
nn (Lior Ashkenazi) and a close-up of Michael’s than Shiray) was stationed it doesn’t immediately ap- perhaps to indicate how
a woman, Daphna Feld- haunted face. and looks back on the past pear to be adding up to alien the soldiers have be-
mann (Sarah Adler) imme- Family members come by six months of his life there. much other than the mad- come, it’s just one of many
diately after they are told unannounced and uninvit- These scenes at the out- dening detachment of mili- unforgettable sequences
that their son, Jonathan, a ed and weep in Michael’s post begin to take on a tary service. On one routine “Foxtrot” has to offer.
soldier, has died in the line arms. But then his aging surreal quality as Jonathan stop, the soldiers make one Words here are sparse but
of duty. Daphna faints at mother seems unfazed and his three comrades couple get out of the car. purposeful, and one amaz-
the sight of the military mes- by the news. Occasional waste the days away on The two people are dressed ing monologue begins to
sengers at her door and is dance breaks (really) be- this desert stretch, wonder in formal wear and seem connect all the dots and
taken to her room and gin to make as much sense whether the shipping crate to be on their way some- lend a greater significance
sedated. Michael peers as anything else as we drift they sleep in is sinking on where. The guys make the to everything as it ties these
down the hallway, stunned along with Michael in this one end (it is, and makes woman dump the contents two generations, Jona-
and unable to do anything initial state of shock. for some amazing shots), of her clutch onto the dirt than’s and Michael’s, to
— cry, help, speak. The of- This whole first section, while and occasionally face road and stand there while the one before it, the one
ficers tell him to drink water beautifully shot, designed tense moments checking they run their ID. While they that experienced the Holo-
every hour, get him a glass and acted, feels a little like the IDs of those attempting are waiting, it begins to caust.
and set a recurring alarm wheel spinning in its repeti- to cross this terribly arbitrary rain, first a little and then If this is all sounding rather
on his phone to remind him. tiveness. What is the point, border. There is an inten- a downpour on the wom- vague, it’s meant to be.
They tell him what will hap- you wonder. Then the film tional artificiality to this set- an’s gown and updo. She It is better to know next to
pen in the next few days. It slaps you awake before it ting that feels at times like a holds back tears while try- nothing about “Foxtrot”
is efficient, emotionless and lulls you back to the trance Radiohead video cross pol- ing to smile at her husband going in, as this is absolutely
routine, and all while this is state as it takes you to the linated with a David Lynch standing on the other side a film that, like a dream, is
happening around him, the remote military outpost film. It is darkly funny, haunt- of the car. Whether this was best experienced and not
camera barely moves from where Jonathan (Yona- ing and transfixing, even if meant to humiliate her, or explained.q

Former film academy president

lauded by Common, Halle Berry

By SANDY COHEN celebrated Tuesday at that inspired the “Oscars so
AP Entertainment Writer Icon Mann’s sixth annual white” online protest and
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) — pre-Oscar dinner. criticism of the academy’s
Common dropped a verse The organization founded diversity. He and John Leg-
from his song “The Day to honor and support black end were campaigning for
Women Took Over” in her men presented its inau- their song “Glory” from the
honor. Quincy Jones called gural Legacy Award to a film “Selma” — which would
her “my beloved baby sis- woman, lauding Boone go on to win the Academy
ter from another mister.” Isaacs’ decades of leader- Award — when they got to
And Halle Berry said her ship and history of opening see Boone Isaacs at work.
pioneering success made doors for people of color. “I saw what Cheryl was get to see black people in Common dedicated a
her proud to be a black “Her impact on this busi- trying to do, and that was these positions, in leader- verse from his 2015 song
woman.Cheryl Boone Isaa- ness will be felt for many move things forward,” ship or in films, then they’ll “The Day Women Took
cs, the former film acad- years to come,” Jones said. Common said. “I saw a real know that they can be like Over” to Boone Isaacs, rap-
emy president who spear- Common shared how he mission and a real plan... (“Black Panther” costume ping a capella in “salute to
headed the organization’s met Boone Isaacs in 2015, And thank you for doing designer) Ruth Carter or your leadership.” She was
radical inclusivity efforts the first year of the all-white that, because I always felt (Oscar-nominated screen- termed out as academy
after #OscarsSoWhite, was slate of acting nominees like the more our children writer) Dee Rees.” president last year. q