Israel on reel: Israeli Film and Television Festival Seret comes to PictureHouse

A still from film Ballad of the Weeping Spring

The term “falafel western” might not be in everyone’s lexicon.

But it is an appropriate phrase to describe Ballad of the Weeping Spring, which will get its UK premiere on the Gala night of Seret, the London Israeli Film and Television Festival, next month.

The movie, which will be screened at the Hackney PictureHouse at 9pm on 12 June, follows brooding ex-musician Josef Tawali (Uri Gavriel) as he attempts to piece together his old ensemble to perform one last song for his dying friend.

Ballad has a dream-like and artificial quality, but the plot is slow and ponderous, the dialogue often clichéd and the main action – in which a mustachioed loan-shark gangster knocks out Josef in order to kidnap a blind flutist – borders on parody.

Thankfully there are plenty of films on the billing at Hackney PictureHouse, many of which focus on contemporary Israel and the day-to-day lives of its people.

The Garden of Eden, directed by Ran Tal, is an intriguing and beautifully shot documentary about the workers and visitors of one of Israel’s largest parks. It will be shown on 16 June at 6pm.

Short films Aya and Wherever You Go are both stories about chance encounters between strangers and will be twinned in a double-bill screening on 13 June.

Gay romance also seems to be a common theme. Out in the Dark offers an exploration into a relationship between two young men from either side of the Palestine-Israel conflict and Joe and Belle promises a darkly comedic take on the developing affection between two young women as they journey to Tel Aviv.

There are many other films on offer at this young festival. For full information on screening times and locations click here.