''Aliyah'' () is a 2012 French

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. The drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular ...

directed by .Boyd van Hoeij
Aliyah
''

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

'', 20 May 2012Adrien Gombeaud
Alyah d'Elie Wajeman
'' Les Echos'', 19 September 2012

Plot

Alex, a 27-year-old

Jewish Jews (, , ), or the Jewish people, are an ethnoreligious group and nation, originating from the Israelites of History of ancient Israel and Judah, ancient Israel and Judah. They also traditionally adhere to Judaism. Jewish ethnicity, rel ...

drug dealer who lives in Paris, plans to do his

Aliyah ''Aliyah'' (, ; ''ʿălīyyā'', ) is the immigration of Jews from Jewish diaspora, the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel or the Palestine (region), Palestine region, which is today chiefly represented by the Israel ...

and move to

Israel Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...

for the chance of a better life.Guillaume Loison
Alyah d’Elie Wajeman
, ''

Le Nouvel Observateur (), previously known as (2014–2024), (1964–2014), (1954–1964), (1953–1954), and (1950–1953), is a weekly French news magazine. Based in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris, ' is one of the three most prominent French news magazines ...

'', 18 September 2012 His brother, Isaac, keeps pestering him for money. During the course of a

Shabbat Shabbat (, , or ; , , ) or the Sabbath (), also called Shabbos (, ) by Ashkenazi Hebrew, Ashkenazim, is Judaism's day of rest on the seventh day of the seven-day week, week—i.e., Friday prayer, Friday–Saturday. On this day, religious Jews ...

dinner at their aunt's house, we learn they lack parental support. Alex's desire to move to Israel is not so much grown out of

Zionism Zionism is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnocultural nationalist movement that emerged in History of Europe#From revolution to imperialism (1789–1914), Europe in the late 19th century that aimed to establish and maintain a national home for the ...

, but because nothing holds him back in France, in spite of his recent encounter with a

gentile ''Gentile'' () is a word that today usually means someone who is not Jewish. Other groups that claim Israelite heritage, notably Mormons, have historically used the term ''gentile'' to describe outsiders. More rarely, the term is used as a synony ...

girl, Jeanne. The final scene highlights Israel's multicultural culture.

Cast

Pio Marmaï Pio Marmaï (born 13 July 1984) is a French actor. He has appeared in more than twenty films since 2008. Early life and education Marmaï was born on 13 July 1984. His mother is a former costume designer at the Opéra de Strasbourg, and his fa ...

as Alex Raphaelson *

Cédric Kahn Cédric Kahn (; born 17 June 1966) is a French screenwriter, film director and actor. Career His films include ''L'Ennui'' (1998), based on the Alberto Moravia novel ''Boredom'', and ''Red Lights (2004 film), Red Lights'' (2004), based on the Geor ...

as Isaac Raphaelson *

Adèle Haenel Adèle Haenel (; born 11 February 1989) is a French actress and far-left political activist. She is the recipient of several accolades, including two César Awards from seven nominations and one Lumière Award from two nominations. Haenel bega ...

as Jeanne *

Guillaume Gouix Guillaume Gouix (; born 30 November 1983) is a French actor, director and screenwriter. He starred in the limited television series '' Gone for Good'' (2021). Career Guillaume Gouix learned acting at the Conservatory of Marseille, then at the ...

as Mathias * Sarah Lepicard as Esther * David Geselson as Nathan * Olivier Desautel as Polo *

Jean-Marie Winling Jean-Marie Winling (born 1947) is a French actor. He has appeared in more than a hundred films since 1972. Filmography Theater External links * {{DEFAULTSORT:Winling, Jean-Marie 1947 births Living people People from Sète Male act ...

as The father * Mar Sodupe as Anaëlle * Aimé Vaucher as Gabriel * Bertrand Constant as Claude * Marion Picard as Rébecca * Brigitte Jaques-Wajeman as The aunt * Louise Roch as Lucie * Zohar Wexler as Nadav *

Michaël Abiteboul Michaël Abiteboul is a French actor. Filmography Theatre References External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abiteboul, Michael French male film actors Living people 21st-century French male actors Year of birth missing (living peop ...

as The

shaliah In Jewish law, a shaliaḥ (, ; pl. , ''sheliḥim'' or ''sheliah'', literally "emissary" or "messenger") is a legal agent. In practice, "the shaliaḥ for a person is as this person himself." Accordingly, a shaliaḥ performs an act of legal sig ...

Reception

The film was screened in the

Directors' Fortnight The Directors' Fortnight (, formerly ) is an independent section held in parallel to the Cannes Film Festival. It was started in 1969 by the French Directors Guild after the events of May 1968 resulted in cancellation of the Cannes festival as a ...

section at the

2012 Cannes Film Festival The 65th Cannes Film Festival took place from 16 to 27 May 2012. Italian filmmaker Nanni Moretti was the president of the jury for the main competition. French actress Bérénice Bejo hosted the opening and closing ceremonies. Austrian filmma ...

. It was also shown at the 2012

Haifa International Film Festival The Haifa International Film Festival () is an annual film festival that takes place every autumn (between late September and late October), during the week-long holiday of Sukkot, in Haifa, Israel. History The festival was inaugurated in 1983 an ...

and the

Cabourg Film Festival The Cabourg Film Festival takes place on the seaside of Normandy every year in June. With romance as its theme, the festival presents a selection of films dedicated to passion, love, and fantasies. The festival was founded by Gonzague Saint Br ...

. ''

'' reviewed the film favorably, suggesting the cast was "solid." and that the film deserve a "wider audience" than "Francophone arthouses and Jewish fests". For '' Les Echos'', it is "the best French film in a long time", as it shows many social classes in Paris, and admits the fact that Paris, as pretty as it is, has nothing left to offer.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Aliyah 2012 films 2012 drama films Films about Jews and Judaism French drama films 2010s French-language films 2010s French films