"At The Movies

Restless (PG) * * *

Director: Amos Kollek Stars: Ran Danker, Moshe Ivgy Studio: Equinoxe Running Time: 100 minutes Release Date: November 28, 2008 Audience Suitability: PG Rating: * * *

Jump Start!

By ROBERT WALDMAN

No one said coming to a new land would be a picnic. Mind you, it often depends on where you’re coming from and where you’re going. Immigrants often flock to the United States to make a new beginning. Past indiscretions come to haunt a disheveled Israeli trying to make ends meet in Restless, an eye-opening journey of one man’s struggle now haunting audiences at Tinseltown (on Pender, free parking). Equinoxe Films scores well thanks to the juxtaposition of mixed up messed up people on both sides of the Atlantic.

Hope springs eternal for Moishe, an Israeli transplant trying to eke out a bare existence in New York. Bad memories plague Moishe, who we learn abandoned a son years earlier. Film maker and writer Amos Kollek smartly explores Moishe’s plight as well that of his long lost son Tzach. Back in the Holy Land Tzach is somewhat of a renegade himself, being a top performer for the Israeli Defense Forces while distant dad tries to make his mark as a stand-up performer. Well, sort of.

Both men have an independent streak and each has considerable emotional baggage. For 100 minutes we see just how different societies deal with troubled citizens and also the dynamic between men, women and those from opposite sides of the political spectrum.

Politics is a hot topic in the Middle East and the filmmakers here take the wise choice of showing just how personal a military conflict can become when accidents occur. Very strong performances by both Moshe Ivgy (Munich) as the disenfranchised father and Ran Danker as his idealistic son will resonate with viewers who navigate one very troubled relationship. Focus also here extends the extended friendship network of both men with Karen Young (Daylight) providing a nice backdrop to Moshe’s philandering ways as a bar maid with a tough exterior.

Those who admire looking at different societies through a non-prejudiced eye will find some soul with Restless, a pretty noble effort of a country and national still with considerable growing pains.

Read more reviews by Robert at www.moviereviewssite.com "