Event

Nili Gold
Near Eastern Languages and Civilization, University of Pennsylvania

presents a campus-screening of the opening movie of the 2013 Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia

The World is Funny
Shemi Zarhin, Israel, 2012, 121 min, Hebrew with English Subtitles

Zafi, a charming young housekeeper and aspiring writer in Tiberias, seems to be the only thing connecting three estranged siblings: Yardena, Meron and Golan. Prompted by her writing teacher, Zafi begins to dig up the family secrets. Yardena finds out she is pregnant, but has no memory of sleeping with anyone in years, including her husband. Meron’s 18-year-old son miraculously wakes up after 8 years in a coma. Meanwhile, Golan is trying desperately to reunite his girlfriend’s favorite comedy troupe, Gashash, before she succumbs to cancer. The World is Funny proves that laughter is truly the best medicine.

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This program is made possible thanks to the support of the Israeli Film Festival of Philadelphia, and University of Pennsylvania's Cinema Studies Program, Middle East Center and Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations Department.