2010 Summer Israeli Film Series: Hamesh Shaot me'Pariz (Five Hours from Paris)

Will she fly away before he gets over his aviophobia?

Comments (0) By Olivia Flores Alvarez Thursday, Aug 12 2010

Life happens to us at the oddest times. Just when Yigal (played by Dror Keren), a taxi driver in Tel Aviv, thinks his life can't get any duller, along comes Lina (Elena Yaralova), a married woman who throws his world into exciting, charming turmoil. That's the starting point for the delightful 2009 Israeli film Hamesh Shaot me'Pariz(Five Hours from Paris). Yigal is a divorced father, and although his own life has become a bit monotonous and empty, he centers his energy on his son. The boy is about to have his bar mitzvah in Paris, which poses a problem for Yigal, who is afraid of flying and so can’t attend.

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Lina, one of his son's teachers and a Russian immigrant, draws out all sorts of unexpected responses from Yigal. The normally quiet, staid Yigal suddenly becomes spontaneous and romantic. Then reality brings the couple back to earth. Lina's husband is returning from Canada and expecting to take her back with him, even though their marriage is falling apart. Will Lina stay grounded in Israel with the aviophobic Yigal? Or will she fly back to her empty marriage? Keren won an Israeli Academy Award nomination for his performance as Yigal. 7:30 p.m. Jewish Community Center, 5601 South Braeswood. For information, call 713-729-3200 or visit www.jcchouston.org. $7 to $10.
Wed., Aug. 18, 7:30 p.m., 2010