Synopsis  (Country : Israel)

Pick a Card (Afula Express)

95 mins/1997

Set in a Tel Aviv slum, the story revolves around David, a garage electrician from Afula (provincial capital of northern Israel), and his girlfriend Batya, a large but attractive woman who works at a local supermarket.

All his life David has dreamt of becoming a magician but his few attempts to turn this into reality have failed so far. Batya, down-to-earth, wants him to lead an ordinary life. David, refusing to give up his dream, links up with Shimon, a Romanian immigrant and expert magician. Batya seeks sympathy from Vickie, a young woman who lives in the same shabby building in which Batya resides.

David and Batya bicker, reconcile, bicker again and split up until they are finally reunited. The lives of the characters emerge in intimate detail as they undergo an emotional journey towards greater maturity. In the process, they ponder questions like the importance of dreaming impossible dreams, the wonder inherent in everyday life and love as a form of magic.

Credits:-
Directed by Julie Shles

Cast:
Zvika Hadar (David), Esty Zackheim (Batya), Aryeh Mokuna (Shimon), Orly Perl (Vicki)

Julie Shles studied film direction at the Beit Zvi School of the Arts and went on to make several award-winning documentaries, notably St Jean (1993), Dina’s Dream and Give Us A Sign (1994) and Baba Luba (1995). Pick A Card, her first feature film, has won six Israeli Academy Awards and the prestigious Wolgin Award at the Jerusalem International Film Festival.