★ 6 / 10
A desire for creating surroundings that are nice
Brent Marchant
A desire for creating surroundings that are nice, tidy and pleasant is certainly laudable, but what if that drive for pristine perfection goes south, with the…
A desire for creating surroundings that are nice, tidy and pleasant is certainly laudable, but what if that drive for pristine perfection goes south, with the emergence of unexpected circumstances and consequences that seriously undercut such intentions? Such is the case when a gay couple, Ben (Shlomi Bertonov) and Raz (Ariel Wolf), move into a Tel Aviv neighborhood just beginning the process of gentrification. As expectant parents, they hope their child will grow up in a civil, multicultural area free of crime and bad influences, backed by positive attributes, such as a clean, safe environment. Ben even does his by part by going so far as to plant a tree to add to the ambiance. But, when he witnesses neighbors treating it badly, he grows incensed and informs the authorities, igniting a firestorm of issues that prompt him to question his supposedly liberal values, raising questions about fairness and tolerance vs. privilege, not to mention hypocrisy. While the story is somewhat light on plot, it nevertheless subtly by effectively addresses issues related to one’s character and authenticity. True, writer-director Idan Haguel’s third feature outing probably could have benefitted from a more developed narrative, but its incisive look at what we say and what we actually do gives even the most self-righteous among us much to consider, especially when it comes to walking our talk. We can learn a lot from some well-considered reflection, and “Concerned Citizen” gives us a spot-on look at that question, one we should all take seriously from time to time.
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★ 7 / 10
Queer Cinema from Israel
ZeddaZogenau
A homosexual couple moves into the Tel Aviv depressed district of Florentin, which is increasingly becoming a gentrified hipster district. Ben (Shlomi…
A homosexual couple moves into the Tel Aviv depressed district of Florentin, which is increasingly becoming a gentrified hipster district. Ben (Shlomi BERTONOV) and Raz (Ariel WOLF) want a bigger apartment because they want to become parents with the help of a Filipino surrogate mother. One day, Ben plants a small tree on the side of the road. When two migrants from Eritrea lean against the delicate tree, he calls the police on the citizens' hotline for help, setting fateful events in motion...
What actually happens when two completely different worlds collide in a very small space? This question arises not only in Israel, of course, but everywhere where local residents meet newly arrived refugees. As if under a magnifying glass, Israeli director Idan HAGUEL deals with current issues such as migration, individualization, surrogacy, police violence and gentrification and creates an illuminating story that shows how people can deceive themselves. And at the expense of others...
Presented at the BERLINALE 2022 (outside of competition), the interesting film can be seen in the original Hebrew version with German subtitles.
It's worth it!
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★ 6 / 10
Opportunity missed, what for the handsome leads.
JeanFlores-Dickens
Concerned Citizen had an incredible amount of potential, but unfortunately, it fell short of delivering on its promise. The lead actors were the standout…
Concerned Citizen had an incredible amount of potential, but unfortunately, it fell short of delivering on its promise. The lead actors were the standout elements, bringing depth and nuance to their roles that made the film somewhat engaging. Their performances were compelling and sincere, providing a glimmer of what the movie could have been.
However, beyond the leads, the film struggled to find its footing. The storyline felt disjointed, and the pacing was uneven, leading to a viewing experience that was more frustrating than fulfilling. There were moments that hinted at greatness, but they were fleeting and overshadowed by missed opportunities.
In the end, *Concerned Citizen* is a film that had the ingredients for success but failed to fully capitalize on them. It's a reminder that strong performances alone can't carry a film; the script and direction need to be equally strong to create a truly memorable piece of cinema.
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TOMATOMETER
· 18 reviews
32%
AUDIENCE
6.0/10
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