A group of friends and neighbours sit around a television to watch a talent competition called the Universong. The friends, five women and one man, root for the singer from their home country of Israel, hoping he belts it out better than the other countries’ superstars. Disappointed by the Israeli’s performance, the friends decide to cheer each other up by singing and strumming along to an original tune.
This early scene sets up Eytan Fox’s colourful romantic comedy Cupcakes, which kicks off this year’s Toronto Jewish Film Society (TJFS) on Sunday, Jan. 18. Like the characters from Cupcakes, film society members should find themselves rooting for a lot of Israeli talent this year.
The TJFS, North America’s longest-running society of Jewish film, often showcases one or two titles from Israel in its annual program. In 2015, its 37th year, four of the eight selected films come from Israel or are Israeli co-productions.
“We take input from our members, and there’s no question that Israeli film, in all of its diversity, is something that excites them,” says Mark Clamen, chair of programming for the TJFS. “The film industry in Israel is thriving.”
The four Israeli films showing at the Al Green Theatre in Toronto this year range from the upbeat musical Cupcakes to a powerful, personal documentary set in Germany.
In The Flat, director Arnon Goldfinger tries to make sense of a curious artifact he finds in his late grandmother’s apartment, dating back to World War II. That acclaimed film will screen on Oct. 18.
The other Israeli titles include The Matchmaker, a coming-of-age drama set in Haifa during the late 1960s, which screens on Feb. 15. Meanwhile, festival favourite, Metallic Blues, a dark comedy about two Jewish men who face challenges while trying to sell a vintage car in Germany, deals with memory and the Holocaust. It will close the annual slate on Dec. 13.
Unlike the titles above, which focus on or deal with chapters from Jewish history, Cupcakes is a delightful slice of Israel’s modern culture. You can get a sense of the film’s chaotic flair from its North American title, as well as the Israeli moniker, which translates to “Bananas.”
The romantic comedy is both funny and far-fetched. The film focuses on a circle of six friends from Tel Aviv who come together to watch a worldwide singing contest. After the male member of the group, Ofer (Ofer Shechter), records them singing an original tune, he sends it to the judges of the talent competition.
Miraculously, the friends are picked to represent Israel in the talent contest the following year. However, the instant celebrity and international pressure have their drawbacks.
Like the snack that gives the film its name, Cupcakes is light, sweet and filled with whirls of colour. In a nice, meta-touch, the actors in the main ensemble share their own names with those of their characters.
The film also has a lot of cheeky if familiar subplots. For instance, the openly gay Ofer worries that his exposure in the competition could drive away his closeted boyfriend. Meanwhile, Dana (Dana Ivgy, from Zero Motivation) is torn between following her dream to be a singer and moving forward with her political career.
With a scant 90-minute runtime, Fox’s comedy zips along so quickly that few of the storylines get time to develop. Several of the conflicts are introduced quickly but are then solved rather hastily, without dealing with the issues for long.
Even though several scenes from Cupcakes are predictable, the film has an infectious energy from the beginning and never lets up. With swift one-liners, a terrific pop soundtrack (featuring songs in English and Hebrew) and an endearing message, the film’s optimism and energy floats above some of the formulaic plotting.
Cupcakes is a delicious introduction to the TJFS program this year, one filled with terrific Israeli talent. Like past incarnations, this year’s society will have a speaker curate each of the films and lead a discussion with the audience after the feature.
A subscription to the eight films is $101 for adults and seniors and $60 for those between the ages of 18 and 35. Individual tickets are also available at the theatre box office
