A Big Story:
Preview of an Apolitical Movie

Rabbi Michael L. Feshbach
Temple Shalom

Chevy Chase, MD

There's not that much apolitical material coming out of the Middle East these days.  Or, more to the point, there' plenty of apolitical space in the daily lives and cultural experience of those who live there -- but when those of us from "outside" Israel think of the place, it is usually, first and foremost, in terms of conflict or religion or in a big picture kind of way.

But I just saw a press screening preview of a new Israeli movie which may not have mentioned the conflict with the Palestinians or religious-secular tension even once.  And I didn't miss it.

Instead, the "politics" of this film were about body-image, self-esteem, and finding your place in the world.

If I have any quarrel with the film it is a quibble kind of quarrel: I am not thrilled with the translation of the title.  The film is called Sippur Gadol in Hebrew...I would have translated that as "A Big Story."  Instead, the film is called, in English, "A Matter of Size."  But that's a little thing, I suppose, in the light of a wonderful hour and a half.

So here's the story: the film begins in a diet club in the Israeli town of Ramla, where everyone weighs in but -- unlike Weight Watchers here in the States, and in typically Israeli communal fashion -- your weight is shouted out loud at the weigh-in, along with either encouragement or insults.

One man, Herzl, simply can't seem to lose weight.  There is no evidence that he is cheating on the diet, he just isn't built to lose weight.  Understanding is not one of the nuanced strengths of this club, however, and so he is unceremoniously kicked out.  He also loses his job because of his overall appearance, and finds new work cleaning dishes at a Japanesse restaurant.  And it is here that things get interesting, as he first encounters Japanese traditions, cultures, and a certain highly specialized form of the martial arts.  And so, soon enough, Herzl and his friends form Israel's first ever sumo wrestling team.

The film opens here in Washington at the Avaolon Theater of Friday, July 2.

A version of it apparently played earlier in this area, at the Washignton Jewish Film Festival, but I missed it there; it is well worth the hassle of finding parking near the Avalon (although I suppose that walking an extra block or two to see a movie about training to get in shape won't hurt)(and I wonder about sales at the concession stands for such a film!).   I am attempting to attach a link from a different review(http://www.forward.com/articles/104846/) but in my own comments I would say: this film was light (pun intended), deep without being obvious about it, and it shows a whole different side to Israeli life than we are used to seeing or thinking about.

And the challenging question I would pose to myself or others is this: which comes first -- physical health, or acceptance of oneself?  How do we reward ourselves?  And what are the greatest rewards of all?