“Ajami”, a multiple winner which even received an Academy Award nominaton for best foreign feature in 2010 is a story set on the streets of Ajami, region of Tel Aviv, where a mixture of cultures live in animosity. Film gives an account of five different stories, fatal clashes of cultures and numerous conflicts which result from those encounters.The majority of roles are played by amateur actors, which at times creates an impression of a documentary. Every community speaks its own language, while scenes where they meet use a combination of languages, creating a natural environment that exists in those mixed neighborhoods. Film was very well received in Israel. It won Ophir Award from Israeli Film and Television Academy, thus beating Lebanon, a winner of Golden Lion at Venice Film Festival.
“Ajami” has been compared with Pier Paolo Pasolini’s earlier works and some new achievements like “Gomorra” and “City of God”. This is a first film shot mostly in Arabic that Israel entered in a competition for best foreign feature and which received a nomination for this prestigious award.
