Israelis go wild for Tarantino's Inglourious Basterds
Tarantino introduces World War II epic to Israelis by asking: Are you ready to kill some Nazis?
By Sara Miller Tags: Holocaust Israel newsIf Quentin Tarantino had truly been anxious about the Jewish response to his Nazi-bashing extravaganza Inglourious Basterds, then the reception at the Israeli premiere Tuesday night should at least have guaranteed him a good night's sleep.
The audience waited inside the movie theater for more than an hour before Tarantino, producer Lawrence Bender and the sublime, Oscar-deserving, movie-stealing polyglot Christoph Waltz made their entrance. The excitement level can be judged by the fact that there was very little complaining, shouting or seat-shifting - all standards of the Israeli movie-going experience.
Tarantino's exuberant introduction (see below) was perfectly pitched at Israelis, many of whom can name the family members who perished in the Holocaust. The "chapters" of the movie showing Nazi-scalping, baseball bat-wielding Jews instilling fear into the hearts of the German army (and Hitler), as well as the bloodbath finale, elicited cheers and hearty rounds of applause, and the man himself won a standing ovation as the end credits rolled.
This is not an historically correct representation of World War II. The Jews, with one expertly acted, filmed and directed exception at the start, are powerful and masters of their own destinies, and the climax of the movie is pure Jewish fantasy. But no one goes to see a Tarantino movie to learn about historical facts.
Like Madonna and her devotion to all things kosher, Tarantino's latest movie should ensure him a warm welcome in the Jewish state, now and for many years to come.
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Quentin Tarantino and Christoph Waltz at the Israeli premiere of Inglourious Basterds in Tel Aviv on Tuesday night. |
| Photo by: (Tomer Appelbaum) |
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I said to friends of mine that if they wanted they could borrow Claude Lanzmann's film "Shoah" from me because I have it on DVD now. One of them answered: "Sorry, but I'm really fat up with the subject." Interestingly, two weeks later he said he'd been to the cinema with his buddies in order to watch "Inglorious Basterds". Maybe someone can explain? Is it a question of identification? He did not explain himself. But I guess there are thousands to millions of people who would rather spend days, weeks and months before their monitors watching war films and playing battle games, rather than being interested in the stories of victims. Why? Is it because it's difficult to identify with victims? And why do Israelis "go wild" for that film?
Because he's a Realist.
Yes Jews do dream of peace but revenge is sweet...oh so sweet even though it is only on film. My Uncle,may he rest in peace, was able to escape from a concentration camp and worked with the Polish underground blowing up trains. He had his revenge but the Nazi's took his wife and children and left him a broken man.
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This movie was uh...smashing...(get it??)..Now all we need is the video game for my PS3.. woo hoo....:)
Tarantino made it out in what seems to be his 'gift' to the Jewish people, but on top of that I am stunned and excited to see that Christopher Waltz came to Tel Aviv for this. He really steals the show in the movie and for him to come to Israel for this really makes me respect him as a person, on top of extraordinary actor.
I'll bet none of the signatories of the Toronto film festival protest ever objected to the blatant propaganda film "Jenin Jenin". Not only is the film full of fiction that is portrayed as fact, it is widely embraced by the pro-Palestinian lobby as some sort of work of artistic merit. Despite the obvious lies in the movie, no pro-Pal supporter would dare speak out and admit that the film is trashy propaganda and should tossed in the trash. No, of course, it is "freedom of expression" and all that crap. However, quality films from Tel Aviv by Israeli directors who may even support the Pals should be boycotted? What a load of two-timed self-indulgent hooey.
How do you things arise if not true?Reactions! It depends on what logic knocks at another logic.
Yes! Yes! Yes! When victims become victimizers, the human race is inevitably,tragically lost in psycho-sociopathology. The conscientious must never lose their capacity for empathy, generosity, kindness, creative cooperation--turn "suffering into joy"!
Your no doubt well-meant response to US Arab ("I don't know whether you are really Arab") implies that you don't believe that Arabs can have lofty sentiments and feelings, and can feel acutely for the Jews who have suffered so much. Well, I am an Arab and I feel and have always felt deeply for the suffering of Jews, as of all others. That of course does not prevent me from also feeling a deep sympathy with Palestinians who suffer brutality daily. Salam/Shalom
maybe because he is a good guy!! Tel Aviv, world's greatest city!!!
I don't know if you are really an Arab. But I coudn't agree more. Salaam, Shalom, Peace.
We've been trying to make peace with the Arabs for over 100 years - will you let us make peace with you now?
Tarantino did a great job portrying the suffering and death of the jews by the Nazi sick vicious regime. One can only imagine the horror those people had to go through... Israel should make peace with Arabs and show the world that this stuff should never happen again peace shalom salam
But a movie is just a movie
Inglorious Basterds was the best movie I have EVER seen besides Gladiator. 5 stars!
I went to see the movie, the theatre was packed, all young people coming to see the latest Tarantino but ignorant of the movie's scenarion, just like me. The 2 and a half hours flew by like 15 minutes and at the end, I wished I'd been like the two old geezers from the muppet show, standing at the balcony and gunning the bastards down! I looked around and everybody in the audience was smiling, my wife and I were the only two smiling Jews... Thank you , Tarantino for making the movie that no Jew would have dreamed to be possible!!!
When I first heard about Tarantino's movie I said, "But it isn't entirely fiction." And I was correct. A number of articles have since been published pointing out that right after the official ending to WWII some members of the Jewish Brigade went on an assassination spree. It probably wasn't as witty or wacky or cartoonish as portrayed in the movie, but I gather it was effective! And by the way, when I saw Inglourious Basterds, I cheered at the end. We know it's not pure fact, but it's not pure fiction either. Just enjoy the moment.
Can't wait to see the film, fantasy is comfort, self-consciousness and survival strategy in all. Advantage: new Tarantino movie to see. Disadvantage: my Tarantino box is not complete anymore. BTW: Seeing the picture above in the article he could put himself in a Tarantino remake of Frankenstein (the monster wins).
Why cant you just let people ride the buzz? Are you that critical of the hundreds of movies that fit your category, the ones that deal with gentiles and make their heroes or do you let them off the hook. Give it a rest for God sake. We know how the world treats Jewish heroes...Munich.
I read your comments about Tarantino's Bastards. First I'll see the film,then I'll comment. But, I won't comment on your comments!
Thank you #1. I was just starting to think that it is me that is going crazy, your reaction (the first sane one I heard about that movie) seems to imply that it is the world. I'm appalled and deeply saddened at the current rewriting of History and morals in books and movies, of which Tarantino is just the latest avatar (see The Reader, The Kindly Ones, etc.).Let's just make sure we the other voices will not go down silently.
We've relegated all of our experiences and feelings into fleeting trivialities. The massacre of the Jews was just that- there was no triumph, no redemption, no "rising above" to it for us. We allowed ourselves to be slaughtered. It was the deaths of our immediate families. The idea that we can now reformulate this as fodder for fantasy entertainment, where we "win" at the end, no less, is an insult to our departed and to our history.