American Women's Club of Hamburg Currents Magazine January 2014 | Page 36

AR TS & ENTER TAINMENT
candidates and begin to practice. Naturally we are
not surprised when, in spite of all obstacles, the
talent show is a huge success, especially the six
members of All Stars.

Many elements make this an excellent film for the
whole family, 10 years and older. Although the actors
are around 14 years old, they appear younger or as
Gina says to Jaden, “You’re eight at the most. Well,
okay, maybe eight and a half.” There are conflicts
with an unbending city bureaucrat, with Jaden’s
parents who only want the best for their son, with
Ethan’s father, an immature, irresponsible man
with an unrealistic idea of himself, who has left his
wife and two children. The four new members of
the dance group could be symbolic of personalities
everywhere: an overweight boy, high society twin
ballroom dancers, and a tomboy judo expert. It’s
all worth every minute just to see Akai and Theo
as Jaden and Ethan – both excellent actors. This is
Ethan’s first Street Dance appearance, while Jaden
appeared in both previous films (StreetDance 3D,
2010 and StreetDance 2, 2012), but this time he
has a leading role. There are two artistic dream
sequences; one represents Jaden taking his exams,
dreaming his way through questions for which he
has no answers. Besides the talented acting and
dancing, there is the wonderful music – at least 35
fun songs, which will have you out into the aisles,
even if you aren’t a dancer. (Becky T.)

Bethlehem * * * *
Starts: January 9

The conflict between Israel and Palestine forms the
backdrop of this gripping political thriller, which
depicts the vicious rivalry between the Israeli secret
service and rebel Palestinian groups such as Hamas
and the el-Aqsa-brigade. But it also shows the
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terrible tensions generated by competing loyalties
among families and individuals on both sides.
Set in Bethlehem, a city governed by Palestinian
officials, the film revolves around the attractions
and uncertainties of a relationship between an
Israeli secret service agent and a young Palestinian
informant he has coerced into duty. The agent
Razi, portrayed by Tsahi Halevi, is strong,
stunningly handsome, and kindly. He advises his
young informant in personal matters, protects him
and cares for him when he is injured, and exploits
him for information at the same time. The boy
Sanfur, on the other hand, convincingly played by
Schadi Mar’i , longs to be respected like his older
rebel brother Ibrahim but also desperately needs
the attention of a caring father figure. He agrees
to become an informant in order to get his real
father out of prison and then becomes increasingly
attached to Razi, whom he admires but does not
completely trust. This is the decisive question:
How can you develop trust when you play both
sides as Razi and Sanfur do? When each of the two
men is cornered and existentially threatened by his
own people, the consequences are fatal. If you like
political thrillers, this is a must to see. I was on
edge throughout the whole film. Israel submitted
it for an Oscar in 2014 in the best foreign language
film category. Directed by Yuval Adler (Pat N.)

12 Years a Slave * * * * *
Starts January 16

Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) is a free
black man living in Saratoga, New York, in 1841.
When he is offered a job for two weeks playing
fiddle with a travelling performing group, he
accepts, not knowing that this would end in his
abduction and sale into slavery. For the next twelve
years, he suffers immense cruelty and violence until
American Women’s Club of Hamburg e.V.