Tel Aviv on Fire

Tel Aviv on Fire follows Kais Nashif’s Salam as he attempts to establish himself as a writer on a nightly television drama, with the character eventually receiving inspiration from a tough-as-nails border guard named Assi (Yaniv Biton). Filmmaker Sameh Zoabi does an effective job of establishing the specific environs in which the movie unfolds, and it’s clear, too, that Tel Aviv on Fire benefits from the efforts of a uniformly appealing roster of performers – with, especially, star Nashif delivering an affable turn that remains an ongoing highlight. There’s little doubt, then, that the picture’s ultimate failure is due mostly to its curious lack of urgency or energy, as Zoabi’s subdued sensibilities pave the way for a lackadaisical narrative that rarely engrosses the viewer or makes much of a memorable impact. (The movie should, for example, become more and more frenetic as it unfolds, and yet Zoabi’s laid-back modus operandi remains firmly in place from start to finish.) The admittedly satisfying finale ensures that Tel Aviv on Fire, at least, ends on a positive note, although it’s impossible to walk away from the proceedings without labeling it a fairly disappointing missed opportunity.

** out of ****