Cinema Sabaya (2023)
85%RT Audience Score: 78%
Awards & Nominations: NA
Cinema Sabaya, the debut feature film from Israeli filmmaker Orit Fouks Rotem, is a masterful exploration of the human condition and the power of art to bring people together. The film delicately weaves together the stories of Arab and Jewish women in a workshop, highlighting their shared experiences and struggles. Rotem’s naturalistic approach to storytelling creates a sense of authenticity that is both heartwarming and thought-provoking. While the film may follow a familiar narrative arc, it is the nuanced performances and Rotem’s deft touch that make it a truly engaging journey. Cinema Sabaya is a testament to the transformative power of cinema and a must-see for anyone interested in the intersection of art and humanity.
“Cinema Sabaya” is a heartwarming film that reminds us that no one is perfect, but we can all learn from each other. The movie follows a group of Arab and Jewish women who come together to learn about each other’s cultures and create a film. The result is a beautiful story about unexpected connections and unseen sorrows. While the film’s narrative may run a familiar path from conflict to resolution, the director’s light, authentic touch makes it an engaging journey. It’s a must-watch for anyone who wants to be reminded of our common humanity and the power of art to bring people together. Plus, it’s full of life, love, humor, and authenticity without being didactic. So grab some popcorn and get ready to be moved!
Production Company(ies)
Film/TV/Theater, Foreign Language, VOD
Distributor
Kino Lorber
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2023
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Color:Color
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Sound mix:Dolby
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Aspect ratio:NA
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Runtime:1h 32m
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Language(s):
-
Country of origin:United States
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Release date:NA
Genre(s)
Drama
Keyword(s)
starring Dana Ivgy, directed by Orit Fouks Rotem, written by Orit Fouks Rotem, drama, box office performance, budget, reviewed by Robert Abele, Kyle Smith, Beatrice Loayza, Alissa Simon, Sr. Rose Pacatte, Benjamin Franz, Neely Swanson, Jared Mobarak, Zachary Goldkind, Jordan Raup, Avi Offer, produced by Kino Lorber, MPAA rating, Arab and Jewish women, video workshop, community center, Tel Aviv, empowering, Ophir Awards, Best Picture, Best Director, Best Supporting Actress, Marlene Bajali.
Worldwide gross: NA
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): NA
US/Canada gross: NA
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend:
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): NA
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): NA
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): $7,500,000
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): $7,500,000
Production budget ranking: 1,767
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): $4,038,750
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Dana Ivgy – Rona
Orit Fouks Rotem – self (Director and Writer)
Director(s)
NA
Writer(s)
NA
Producer(s)
NA
Film Festivals
Awards & Nominations
NA
Academy Awards
All Critics (13) | Top Critics (4) | Fresh (12) | Rotten (1)
The old classroom concept of show-and-tell becomes a richer, deeper exercise for a workshop of Arab and Jewish women in Israeli filmmaker Orit Fouks Rotem’s heartfelt feature debut “Cinema Sabaya.”
February 24, 2023
Robert Abele
Los Angeles Times
TOP CRITIC
Cinema Sabaya, a quietly affecting little film about unexpected connections and unseen sorrows, shimmers with a bright optimism about how people might overlook one another’s differences if only they took a little time to learn about each other.
February 10, 2023
Kyle Smith
Wall Street Journal
TOP CRITIC
The film resides in the porous boundary between fiction and reality… enriched by naturalistic flair that eschews didacticism.
February 9, 2023
Beatrice Loayza
New York Times
TOP CRITIC
The film is full of life, love, humor and authenticity without being didactic. At the same time, it cleverly questions the ethics and responsibility of filmmaking.
January 3, 2023
Alissa Simon
Variety
TOP CRITIC
Cinema Sabaya is a parable about our common humanity and for people and communities who live in conflict.
April 14, 2023
Sr. Rose Pacatte
St. Anthony Messenger
This is a heartwarming film that should be watched by everyone.
February 27, 2023 | Rating: 8.5/10
Benjamin Franz
Film Threat
Rotem may have manipulated the vision of everyday life but she has made an absorbing film that has you seeking answers to questions she didn’t ask.
February 27, 2023
Neely Swanson
Beverly Hills Courier
The purpose isn’t therefore to magically solve centuries of persecution. It’s to remind us that no one is perfect. No one is unequivocally correct. And no one is truly alone.
February 24, 2023 | Rating: 7/10
Jared Mobarak
Hey, Have You Seen …?
Seeing the infinite capacities of a medium as multifaceted and complex as the cinematic one reduced to meandering liberalism bodes tragedy — artistically, certainly, but more importantly one of ideological kindling, a refusal of meaningful introspection.
February 10, 2023
Zachary Goldkind
In Review Online
Exuding a documentary-like realism to excavate deeper truths, Israel’s Oscar entry examines how the unified pursuit of artistic fulfillment can break down cultural and religious barriers to invite conversations that otherwise may never take place.
February 9, 2023 | Rating: B
Jordan Raup
The Film Stage
A well-acted, genuinely moving and empowering emotional journey well worth taking.
February 8, 2023
Avi Offer
NYC Movie Guru
While the film’s narrative may run a familiar path from conflict to resolution, Rotem’s light, authentic touch makes it an engaging journey.
December 7, 2022
Nikki Baughan
Screen International…
Plot
A group of Arab and Jewish women attend a video workshop and form an empowering bond as they challenge their beliefs and preconceptions in Cinema Sabaya.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Rona, played by Dana Ivgy, is a young filmmaker from Tel Aviv who teaches a group of Arab and Jewish women to document their lives in Cinema Sabaya.
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