GOODBYE, NEW YORK

Israel, 1985, 90 minutes, Colour.
Julie Hagerty, Amos Kollek.
Directed by Amos Kollek.

Goodbye, New York is an American- Israeli co-production. It was produced, directed and written by the film's co-star, Amos Kollek (son of the Mayor of Jerusalem). It is particularly directed to an Israeli audience - and, perhaps, a wider American audience. It is one of those stories of frustration, escape from real life - and finding that by mistake one is on an Israeli kibbutz. Julie Hagerty (who was also Lost in America) does her best with this frustrated and frustrating role. She portrays a heroine who leaves New York, over-sleeps at and finds herself in Israel. She has to cope with life on a kibbutz - which is not congenial. Needless to say, there is a lot of kibbutz humour. She fares only a little better at times in Israel than she did in New York. The film is somewhat reminiscent of Not Quite Jerusalem. A hit-or-miss comedy.

1. Interesting and entertaining American- Israeli comedy? American audience? For Israelis? A wider audience?

2. The use of New York locations? The use of Israeli locations? Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, the kibbutz? Musical score?

3. The title and its focus on Nancy? Her saying goodbye to New York - her job and her quitting, her finding her husband in bed with another woman, leaving for Paris with high hopes? The irony of her fatigue and sleeping through the Pat's stop? her exasperation at finding herself in Israel without luggage etc.? Her being forced to go to the kibbutz, her resistance, her fitting in with the kibbutz, the clash of lifestyle? Her seeing herself as spoilt? Hard work, clothes, regimentation, fellowship? Her encounter with David? His love for her - but his infidelity as well? Her coming to her senses? Learning from her experience in Israel?

4. The men in Nancy's life: her husband and his drug-taking, womanising? Discovering men in bed in her hotel room? David and his friendship, infidelity, reconciliation?

5. The portrayal of life on the kibbutz - for Israeli audiences (the touch of realism and comedy)? For non-Israelis and their curiosity about the lifestyle - good will, difficulties?

6. The film as a sketch of an ordinary American woman having to cope with a new way of life?

7. The film's strong pro-Israeli point of view - but not without some self-satire?