I Wanted to Be Challenged Just a Little Bit More

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MOVIE REVIEW
All Eyes Off Me (Mishehu Yohav Mishehu)
(adult content) –

Genre: Drama, World Cinema
Year Released: 2023
Runtime: 1h 28m
Director(s): Hadas Ben Aroya
Writer(s): Hadas Ben Aroya
Cast: Elisheva Weil, Leib Lev Levin, Yoav Hait, Hadar Katz
Language: Hebrew, w/English subtitles
Where To Watch: premiering on VOD & Digital on January 20, 2023

RAVING REVIEW: A film that is hard to describe, at times it felt like a contender for best film of the year, but then it would break off in an almost jarring direction in all three acts. I’m not shaming the movie for it; I can’t quite quantify my experience.

The latest film from Hadas Ben Aroya is a visually striking and nuanced exploration of the complexities of youth and love in contemporary Tel Aviv. With a series of vignettes, the film masterfully intertwines confident and compelling characters with a sense of longing and emptiness.

The film paints a picture of a generation struggling to find their place in the world, grappling with the weight of societal expectations and the allure of freedom. The city of Tel Aviv serves as a backdrop to the story, adding an extra layer of complexity to the characters' journeys.

The film is a mixed bag, with moments of brilliance and disappointment. However, despite the film's visual prowess and thought-provoking themes, it sometimes needs to polish its portrayal of its characters and allow them more room to have the growth I believe that’s intended.

For those looking for a film that will challenge their perceptions of youth and love in modern-day society, this film may be for you. But for those looking for a well-rounded and satisfying narrative, you may be left wanting more.

From reviewer “ayoreinf” on IMDb, “…ALL EYES OFF ME is a weird concoction… …I think foreign viewers deserve to know that the original name – derived from a line in a song we hear in the film means “Someone Will Love Someone.” The song is Hebrew, but I think the original name suits the film much better even if the audience isn't familiar with that song.”

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[photo courtesy of FILM MOVEMENT]