Ajami

 

Ajami, nominated for Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars in 2009, is an intense and gritty depiction of the violent society of Muslims, Jews,and Christians in Israel's melting pot Jaffa. It reminds me of the best elements of the films Amores Perros and City of God. It is said to have taken seven years to complete. It tells five interlocking stories about the diverse population of Jaffa-all of the religious groups are represented and the stories still manage to surprise the viewer as expectations are undermined by camera angles and lack of knowledge of particular story lines. It is a powerful and entertaining film.