Cabal in Kabul
| Cabal in Kabul | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Dan Alexe |
| Produced by | Serge Kestemont |
| Starring | Zabulon Simantov Yitzchak Levin |
Release date |
|
Running time | 87 minutes |
| Country | Belgium |
| Language | Dari with English subtitles |
Cabal in Kabul (French: Cabale à Kaboul) is a documentary film directed by filmmaker Dan Alexe. It follows the lives of two men, Zabulon Simantov (Hebrew: זבולון סימן-טוב) and Yitzchak Levin (Hebrew: יצחק לוי), who are said to be the last remaining Jews in Afghanistan.[1]
Background
Isaac and Zabulon live in the courtyard of the synagogue in Kabul. Isaac, the eldest of the two, resides on the ground floor selling amulets to his Muslim neighbors. Zabulon, who lives on the upper floor, sells illegally-produced wine.
The pair have been acquainted for many years, and they are seen constantly expressing their jealousy and distaste for one another. It is said that the Taliban had once imprisoned them, but released the two when their bickering prolonged.
Reception
Unifrance said that the hatred between Zabulon and Isaac is "intense", making the movie far from dull despite the otherwise lonely and isolated existence.[2] Filmfest Hamburg labelled the film as a tragicomedy that explores the lingering pieces of a former society.[3]
Contrastingly, Jacques Mandelbaum of the French newspaper Le Monde wrote that the film worryingly did not show any sympathy for the subjects nor their hostilities towards each other. He criticized the filmmaker for taking a stance of indifference in its portrayal, and for attempting to exploit the pair's relationship.[4]
References
- ^ "Cabal in Kabul". Miami Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
- ^ "Cabal in Kabul de Dan Alexe (2006) - Unifrance". en.unifrance.org.
- ^ "Cabale à Kaboul • FILMFEST HAMBURG". www.filmfesthamburg.de.
- ^ Mandelbaum, Jacques (16 October 2007). ""Cabale à Kaboul" : un jeu dangereux avec la réalité" (in French).
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