Arab Labor Season 3

  • Israel
  • Series
  • 2012
  • 10x 26 min.
  • Director(s): Shai Capon
  • Producer(s): Yoni Paran

Synopsis

“Avoda Aravit” is Israel’s first prime-time television show that depicts Arabic-speaking main characters, and takes a comical look at the cultural divide between Arabs and Jews in Israel. In brand-new episodes from the third season, Palestinian-Israeli protagonist Amjad is incensed to learn that his family’s mere presence in their new Jewish neighborhood is driving down property values. Hell bent on proving to the world that Arabs and Jews can coexist under the same roof, Amjad joins the cast of the reality TV series, Big Brother. What starts as a plan to endear Jewish Israelis to a “model Palestinian” quickly backfires when producers challenge him to pass as a Jew among his fellow competitors. Amjad hides his identity, and ugly prejudices bubble to the surface. As he is catapulted into fame of paparazzi-dodging proportions, Amjad transforms into a tetherball, punted between extremes of pedantic stiff-necked nationalism and nebbish Zionism. Meanwhile, Amjad’s interfaith friends Meir and Amal welcome their first child into the world. But is the world ready? Writer Sayed Kashua (SFJFF 2010 Freedom of Expression Award recipient) is accustomed to breaking new ground. With Arab Labor, he launched the first-ever Israeli sitcom centered around a Palestinian-Israeli family. Now in Season 3, he challenges us to embrace heartier laughs and more painful truths.

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Credits

Director(s)

Shai Capon

Producer(s)

Yoni Paran

Executive Producer(s)

Daniel Paran

Script

Sayed Kashua

Cast

Mariano Idelman, Norman Issa, Clara Khoury

Original Language

Hebrew, Arabic

Subtitles

English

Festival Highlights

  • Best Comedy

    Israeli Academy of Film and Television awards
    2013
  • Best Lead Actor

    in a Comedy
    Israeli Academy of Film and Television awards
    2013
  • Best Lead Actress

    in a Comedy
    Israeli Academy of Film and Television awards
    2013
  • Best Director

    Israeli Academy of Film and Television awards
    2013
  • Best Screenplay

    Israeli Academy of Film and Television awards
    2013

San Fransisco Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2013

Washington Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2013

New Jersey Israeli Film Series, USA, 2013