This City (film)
2023 Israeli film
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This City (Hebrew: העיר הזאת, Ha'ir Hazot) is an Israeli rap opera detective film based on a musical of the same name by Amit Ulman. The film was produced by Drom Productions and Incubator Theater, where the original musical was performed, with crowdfunding support through Headstart. It was released in July 2023. The film follows detective Joe's investigation of a murder mystery that becomes complicated when it's revealed that a major criminal is involved. It was written in the style of film noir.[1][2]
- July 2023
| This City | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Amit Ulman |
| Written by | Amit Ulman |
| Starring | Amit Ulman, Moria Akons, Omer Havron |
Release date |
|
| Country | Israel |
| Language | Hebrew |
Plot
Private investigators Joe and Jack receive a visit from Sarah Bennett, who asks for Joe's help in investigating her sister Naomi's disappearance.[3]
Police Inspector McMurphy and his partner Chucky suspect that detective Joe killed his partner, murdered Naomi Bennett, and fabricated his connection with her sister Sarah.[3]
Joe is interrogated by the police, confesses to the murder, and is sentenced to death by hanging. Just before he is to be hanged, in his last words speech, Joe reveals to the crowd the identity of Menashe, who is also responsible for Naomi Bennett's murder. Menashe is arrested on the spot.[3]
Creation of the film
In 2008, Amit Ulman first presented one of the scenes from "This City" to his band members from "Victor Jackson," including Jimbo J and Itzhik Pitzatzi. The band performed the scene in shows, and after its success, they expanded the single scene into a detective story that became the "This City" musical, which was performed from 2012 to 2022.[4]
From theater to cinema
The show ran for about a decade, and from its early days, Ulman aspired to film a cinematic version. The transition to cinema brought challenges such as creating a city that doesn't look Israeli or modern, and building a new and dark world inspired by film noir on one hand and hip-hop culture on the other. The chosen costumes were period-appropriate, and the actors' makeup design references classic detective films.[5]
The film's cinematic language is innovative in that the entire script is one long song, with almost all dialogue written in rhymes and accompanied by musical instruments.[4]
Cast
Main characters
| Actor | Character | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Amit Ulman | Joe Halfon | Cynical and bitter detective |
| Moriah Akons | Sarah Bennett | Searching for her missing sister, went to high school with Joe |
| Omer Havron (Jimbo J) | Jack Halperin | Investigator and Joe's partner who is murdered during the film |
| Alon Neuman | Shlomi McMurphy | Police inspector, described as an honest cop, but at the end of the film is revealed to be "Menashe," the city's big criminal |
| Idan Alterman | Barnaby Shimoni | Messenger of the big criminal Menashe |
| Omer Mor (Itzhik Pitzatzi) | Unnamed musician | Street musician who plays and appears in the background throughout the film |
| Jeremiah Omen (Jeremiah) | Charlie (Chucky) Mesika | Inspector McMurphy's new partner since Jack's murder |
Supporting characters
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Uri Ambar (Toxico) | Newspaper hawker |
| Peled | Criminal, dealer in stolen watches |
| Reuven Aragai (Tedross) | Homeless person |
| Itai Zvulon (Tuna) | Prisoner |
| Jonathan Blumenfeld | Arkadi, pianist at the "Barbonia" club |
| Guy Ron | Prison guard |
| Arik Eshet | Priest, Jack's eulogist |
| Tal Tirangel | Number 3, city resident |
| Sima Barami | Jacqueline, city resident |
| Sherry Atzitz | Sandy, city resident |
| Eko Morgenstern | Drug dealer |
| Karin Cohen | Waitress at the "Barbonia" club |
| Doron Goverman | Jack's wife |
| Ravid Plotnik | Corn seller and Joe's double |
| Shira Alterman | Naomi Bennett, Sarah's sister |
| Peter Kenner | Yoav Remez, fundraiser |
| Yosef Albeck | Taxi driver |