The Journey of author Eli Amir and Filmmaker Boris Mafstir in search of identity and memory. Boris Maftsir sets out to trace the memories and personal identity of his friend Eli, and in the process encounters his own buried memories from the distant past in the Former Soviet Union. TARAB is a heightened spiritual and sensual state induced by Arabic music. TARAB is the music that 'Fuad Elias' heard as a young boy in Baghdad before becoming the renowned and respected Israeli author, Eli Amir. And TARAB is also the way in which Maftsir gains entry into the inner world of his oldest daughter Orit, one of the world's most well known belly
Festivals
- Vancouver Jewish Film Festival, Canada, 2010
- Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, 2009
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Westward Ho!
It all started with the idea of putting on an evening in honor of the Egyptian diva Uhm Kultum. The writer Eli Amir decides to set up a meeting with the well know belly-dancer Orit Maftsir, who is the daughter of his friend Boris. The story could have ended at this point, but Eli Amir takes the initiative to prove to the Israeli public that without knowing, and adopting Arab culture, we have no place in this part of the world.
As part of this project, the discussion arrives at the question of does Israel need to continue to be a beacon of enlightenment in the darkness of Arab culture which surrounds it. Or does its very existence rely on the ability to fit in to the surrounding cultures. In his books Amir always pulled Eastward, while the country seemed to be pushing westward.
….as someone who knows some of the wealth of local culture, I am not sure that when it comes down to making a choice, that I will make the choice of Eli Amir and Uhm Kultum. But the discussion itself is fascinating.
Globus, 21/12/09 by Nir Kipnis
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