SALLAH SHABATI

Dir. Ephraim Kishon (110min, Israel, 1964)
Hebrew with English Subtitles
Documentary

Celebrate the 50^th anniversary of Sallah Shabati–one of the most outrageous, beloved, and enduring artifacts of Israeli Cinema – with a presentation of a newly restored print. This sharp, hilarious satire centers on new immigrants Sallah and his Yemenite Jewish family, flown to Israel during "Operation Magic Carpet," and immediately shuttled to a government settlement camp. Unlike his hard-working neighbors, Sallah (Chaim Topol in his breakout role) is shiftless and lazy. Against all odds, he becomes a hero when, while wheeling and dealing, he uncovers misappropriations and corner-cutting in Israel's housing industry. This hilarious portrayal of immigrants in Israel was the first Israeli film to be nominated for an Oscar and the first to win the Golden Globe.