Israel 1964
Language: English (Dialect), Hebrew
Subtitles: English
Director: Ephraim Kishon
Camera: Floyd Crosby, Nissim Leon
Script: Ephraim Kishon
Editor: Danny Shick, Roberto Cinquini
Cast: Chaim Topol, Geula Nuni, Gila Almagor, Shraga Friedman, Zaharira Harifai, Shaike Levi, Nathan Meisler, Esther Greenberg, Mordecai Navon
Producer: Menahem Golan
Music: Yohanan Zaray
Sound: Wally Milner
Distributer: Israeli Films
Lenght: 110 Min
Color: sw
Age Limit: <

Ephraim Kishon may have been the first pop-cultural mediator between Israel and the FRG: Translated a lot, has seen a lot, cited a lot. Though, because of the totally falsifying synchronization, SALLAH SHABATI had some issues: A big part of the charm of this satire about Israel’s not always so successful immigration policy (such as the pigheadedness of that time’s bureaucratic caste) lies within the dialogues, the Arabic-toned Hebrew in which Chaim Topol performs the Mizrahi immigrant Sallah. A lot of weird wordings, much ambiguity: misunderstandings are the result. A rare possibility to enjoy Israel’s first Oscar-nominee with subtitles.