Mivtza Savta

1999 Israeli satirical comedy

2000 (2000)

Running time

51 minutesCountryIsraelLanguageHebrew

Operation Grandma (Hebrew: מבצע סבתא, Mivtza Savta) is a short 1999 Israeli satirical comedy about the military and kibbutz life directed by Dror Shaul. It was filmed on Kibbutz Yakum and based on the funeral of Esther Shaul (sister of Yisrael Galili). Esther was Dror's grandmother who was buried in Kibbutz Kissufim where Shaul was born and raised.

Plot

Three very different brothers – Alon (34), a no-nonsense Israeli Army officer; Benni (30), a brilliant electrician; and Idan (22), a wimpy field trip guide – navigate obstacles in an attempt to bury their beloved grandmother in the cemetery of her kibbutz, the fictional Asisim. Because Alon has a secret security operation set for that same day, they have to work on a tight schedule, so he plans it like a military operation (hence the title). A series of mistakes and mishaps complicate things.

Cast

Rami Heuberger as Alon "Krembo" Sagiv
Ami Smolartchik as Benni Sagiv
Tzach Spitzen as Idan Sagiv
Einat Weitzman as Hagit
Rozina Cambos as Deborah
Hugo Yarden as Sergio
Danielle Miller as Christine
Pablo Salzman as Claudio
Gabriel Troisgros as Patrick
Davida Karol as Haya Sagiv
Eyal Rozales as Gabby
Rotem Abuhab as Shirly
Efron Etkin as Meir Cohen

Critical reception

The film won a 2000 Ophir Award in the television drama category. Haaretz called it "one of the most successful Israeli comedies ever seen on the small screen",^[1] and the film has achieved cult film status in that country, primarily in Kibbutzs.^[2]

References

^ Aviva Lori (29 September 2006), "Child of the Dream", Haaretz (retrieved 13 November 2012).
^ Amos Harel (4 August 2003), "Analysis / Hudna intoxication", Haaretz (retrieved 13 November 2012).