The Bubble
by Eytan Fox
(Click here)
Buy this DVD movie at online store in your country
Canada
Canada
DVD details
Actor: Alon Friedmann, Daniela Wircer, Ohad Knoller, Yousef 'Joe' SweidDirector: Eytan Fox
DVD: Region Code 1
Audio: Arabic (Original Language); Hebrew (Original Language); English (Subtitled)
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Dolby, DVD, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Picture Format: 1.85:1
Running Time: 117 minutes
DVD Release Date: 2008-02-12
Audience Rating: Unrated
Studio: Strand Releasing
DVD Reviews of The Bubble
DVD Review: From forth the fatal loins of these two foes, a pair of star-cross'd lovers
Summary: 4 Stars
I borrowed this from the local library without knowing anything more than provided by the description on the back of the box. I thought it would be some light, fluffy, Will-and-Grace type comedy, and was pleased to find instead a contemporary tale of star-cross'd lovers.
In a scene that echoes the opening street brawl between the House of Montague and the House of Capulet in Romeo & Juliet, The Bubble begins during an altercation at an Israeli checkpoint. The Palestinian travelers are squabbling with the gruff Israeli soldiers over their treatment, when a woman goes into labor. A young soldier, Noam (Ohad Knoller), tries to deliver the baby, while Ashraf (Yousef 'Joe' Sweid) translates for him and comforts the woman. They notice each other in the moment, but part ways immediately when the baby is born dead.
A disillusioned Noam returns to civilian life, and is enjoying his time with his flat mates when Ashraf appears and returns the Israeli's lost passport. The two go up to the roof of the building, and their relationship takes off from there - in explicit visuals I might add. For those who are wondering about love scenes, gay or otherwise, this movie has both. If male or female nudity, or male-male love scenes truly bother you, you'll probably want to steer clear of The Bubble, though in doing so you will miss a good movie.
The performance of Yousef 'Joe' Sweid is heartbreakingly wonderful and can't help but draw the viewer in. He portrays an endearing innocence in a world hostile to everything Ashraf is, without the character feeling forced or contrived. Such a character not carefully handled can easily appear quaint, and even idiotic to an audience, but here you come to care for a man who seemingly has obstacles at every point on the compass.
It's acting well done, and Sweid is not alone. Daniella Wircer (also sometimes credited as Daniela Virtzer) imbues the token girl friend/flame dame role with a great deal of zest and the two other male leads give good turns in their roles. You start to think of them as family - the way the characters view themselves. They are young, and almost ridiculously idealistic, but they instill hope in the viewer, even when we know how star-crossed love stories play out.
If you've an open mind, it's two hours well spent.
DVD Review: The Bubble
Summary: 5 Stars
The Bubble This film contains "food for thought". Even though it is an "Adult" classification, the story-line is profound.
A young Israeli man and a young Palestinian man are in a relationship. The film explores the various effects this relationship has on a number of friends of the Israeli and a family member of the Palestinian.
After watching the film, I found myself thinking about the actual message of the film, basically a wish for PEACE.
Very watchable with an unexpected ending.
DVD Review: God Bless Struggling to Turn a Life into the Mutual Better
Summary: 5 Stars
Sometimes, multiculturalism brings about pearls unpredicted to even itself.
In a case of a free TV channel screening world movies, broadcating The Bubble, recent "Israel Cinema on SBS" program is a sure testimony to.
Playing in-between and with outsiders, broadminded Jewish-Palestinian males-female triangle is gradually shaped to a square of reality since a same gender attracted Arab-Palestinian had a game joint.
Sexy, clever, entertaining work embedded significant vital issues for a very survival of Israel the Jewish State in a surrounding environment of nationalistically religious bigotry of which murdering requires de-facto no causes to occur. The longer it lasted-the less victors remains but just victims of mutual tragedy of mistrust and hatred.
To a reviewer, in spite some tragic likeness to The Holy Land, a final considers optimistic ray for the future because martyr had taken his most precious non-relatives with him not relying on seventy two virgins promised in the heavens if even ones of various sexes and preferences.
God Bless Those Palestine's People-the Jews and the Arabs -who struggle to turn a life into the mutual better.
DVD Review: Star crossed lovers
Summary: 4 Stars
'The Bubble' is at its best when detailing the everyday life of idealistic, self-absorbed young Tel Aviv residents who feel removed from the harsher realities of the Israeli/Arab conflict. The scenes depicting the sweet, somewhat dreamy romance that unfolds between Noam, an Israeli reservist and record store clerk, and Ashraf, a Palestinian, are a pleasure to watch unfold. One of my favorite scenes is when Noam first introduces Ashraf to his roommates, and then takes Ashraf up to the rooftop and introduces him to his city."Tel Aviv, Ashraf; Ashraf, Tel Aviv".
Fans of Eytan Fox's earlier movie 'Yossi and Jagger' will be happy to see Ohad Knoller (Noam) portray another star-crossed lover. But while part of the charm of 'Yossi and Jagger' was the sometimes charged interactions between the effusive Jagger and the reserved Yossi, the romance between Noam and Ashraf is more muted. Noam tells Ashraf that they are "explosive" together, but their passion is more talked about than seen. I thought it would have been more interesting, and more believable, if Ashraf and Noam had argued about music, politics, religion, ANYTHING. Instead, they seem to be a couple completely devoid of conflict.
The charming romance ends abruptly soon after Ashraf returns to Nablus for his sister's wedding and a chain of events is unleashed that will change the lives of all of its characters. It is here when the movie begins to falter. I thought the final third of the movie was marred by too many improbable coincidences and by an implausible and, to my mind, nihilistic ending.
Even with these flaws, I would still recommend 'The Bubble', because it has more spirit and life in it than many more well-crafted movies do.
DVD Review: Fantastic, thought provoking and important gay cinema
Summary: 5 Stars
As evidenced by the differences in some of the reviews posted here on Amazon, the subject matter of the film mirrors the tension and dissent of the political landscape it's told on. Some people love this movie and others are shocked and bothered by parts or the whole. It provokes such heated responses whichever side you fall on. I think this means the director's insight and point of view on the Arab/Israeli conflict, as seen through the eyes of two gay men from each side who unexpectedly fall in love, is a unique and important addition to gay cinema. Whether you think any or all of the film is plausible or not, the strength of the story carries you along as the two main characters meet, fall in love, and then struggle with the inevitable challenges of being from opposite sides of a centuries long struggle, in addition to being closeted about being gay. I learned, as others have noted here, that LGBT life in both the Palestinian territory, and a country like Israel, can be quite different from what we in North America and Western Europe have become used to (and take for granted sometimes) as the gay liberation movement soldiers on delivering rights and freedoms, leaps and bounds ahead of more traditional and conservative parts of the world. In the Middle East, this film makes clear that love (both gay and straight) is even more complicated when you live in a constantly volatile and unsettling place. The parallels between the tension and volatility of love, and it's mirror tension in politics, to me makes this an important story told well. As a film it is strong comment from a left leaning Israeli voice, and as an addition to queer cinema I think it will be regarded as a seminal story like some of the other films it has been compared to in the reviews posted (Brokeback Mountain, Boys in the Band, etc.,). I would highly recommend it as this story brings thought provoking and well crafted gay cinema one step forward, in my opinion.
Description of The Bubble
Three young Israelis, two guys and a girl, share an apartment in Tel Aviv's hippest neighborhood: headstrong Lulu, who works in a bath products boutique; flamboyant Yali, who manages a trendy caf?; and brooding music store clerk Noam, who spends his weekends serving at checkpoints in the National Guard. When Noam meets and falls in love with a Palestinian man named Ashraf, he and his friends conspire to help Ashraf stay on in Tel Aviv illegally. They participate in a beach rally, celebrating a peaceful coexistence, and calling for an end to the occupation of Palestinian territories. But ultimately, their carefully constructed utopia is shattered by the political and social realities of the Middle East, and the constant outbursts of violence.General DVDs
DVD Video
- Action & Adventure
- African American Cinema
- Animation
- Anime & Manga
- Art House & International
- Classics
- Comedy
- Cult Movies
- Documentary
- Drama
- Educational
- Fitness & Yoga
- Gay & Lesbian
- Horror
- Kids & Family
- Military & War
- Music Video & Concerts
- Musicals & Performing Arts
- Mystery & Suspense
- Science Fiction & Fantasy
- Special Interests
- Sports
- Television
- Westerns
Bestsellers in General DVDs
Best in ShowWarner Brothers; Release date: 2001-05-15; DVD
Best price: $6.22
Price in other shops:
The Lives of OthersSony; Release date: 2007-08-21; DVD
Best price: $7.49
Price in other shops:
Pan's LabyrinthVERDU,MARIBEL; Release date: 2007-05-15; DVD
Best price: $3.99
Price in other shops:
Chocolat (Miramax Collector's Series)Disney; Release date: 2001-08-07; DVD
Best price: $5.97
Price in other shops:
AmelieDisney; Release date: 2002-07-16; DVD
Best price: $9.98
Price in other shops:
Life Is BeautifulDisney; Release date: 1999-11-09; DVD
Best price: $4.58
Price in other shops:
![Gomorrah (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray] Image](/images/Gomorrah-Criterion-Collection-Blu-ray-B002M36R14-X.jpg)
Gomorrah (Criterion Collection) [Blu-ray]IMAGE ENT.; Release date: 2009-11-24; DVD
Best price: $23.48
Price in other shops:
Let The Right One InMAGNOLIA FILMS; Release date: 2009-03-10; DVD
Best price: $7.62
Price in other shops:
The Ultimate GiftUltimate; Release date: 2007-08-21; DVD
Best price: $6.98
Price in other shops:
Slumdog MillionaireTCFHE; Release date: 2009-03-31; DVD
Best price: $5.42
Price in other shops:
Similar DVDs, VHS Video, Audio CDs
Times Have Been BetterWOLFE VIDEO; Release date: 2007-09-25; DVD
Best price: $17.76
Price in other shops:
Back SoonTLA RELEASING; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $11.14
Price in other shops:
S Is for SexyWOLFE VIDEO; Release date: 2008-06-03; DVD
Best price: $16.27
Price in other shops:
ShelterRYKODISC; Release date: 2008-05-27; DVD
Best price: $14.70
Price in other shops:
Dark Blue Almost BlackRelease date: 2008-01-08; DVD
Best price: $15.20
Price in other shops:
Surveillance 24/ 7SURVEILLANCE 24/7 (DVD MOVIE); Release date: 2008-03-04; DVD
Best price: $15.94
Price in other shops:
The Man of My LifeRelease date: 2007-11-20; DVD
Best price: $16.25
Price in other shops:
Eleven Men OutRYKODISC; Release date: 2008-03-04; DVD
Best price: $18.29
Price in other shops:
Walk on WaterASHKENAZI,LIOR; Release date: 2005-08-30; DVD
Best price: $6.85
Price in other shops:
Yossi & JaggerRelease date: 2004-03-30; DVD
Best price: $16.34
Price in other shops: