EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE

Israel/US, 1986, 98 minutes, Colour.
Tom Hanks, Cristina Masillach, Benedict Taylor, Gila Almagor.
Directed by Moshe Misrahi.

Every Time We Say Goodbye is an Israeli- American co-production. It was written and directed by Moshe Mizrahi, best known internationally for his Madam Rosa with Simone Signoret. The setting is Jerusalem during the war. Tom Hanks, not particularly at home in a romantic rather than a comic role is an American soldier in Palestine. He falls in love with a Sephardic Jewish girl and experiences their strong tradition and prejudices. The heroine is played by Cristina Marsillach. Her mother is played by the noted Israeli actress, Gila Almagor.

The film re-creates the period, but is not entirely unpredictable - audiences will feel that they have seen the material before.

1. Romance, war, marriage, prejudice?

2. An Israeli-American? co-production? Israeli locations? The period, Jerusalem, the desert, the army? The score by noted French musician, Philippe Sarde?

3. The credibility of Tom Hanks in the central romantic role?

4. Jerusalem, the Jews during World War Two, relationship with the British, with Americans? The background of the Sephardic Jews and their Spanish tradition, strict interpretation of religious life? Their style, prejudice? The plea to break barriers?

5. David: his friendship with Peter, leaving the hospital, meeting Victoria, the encounter with Sarah, the family prejudice, David and his following Sarah, saving her from the Australian soldier? Meeting Nessim, the explanations? Information about the family? His visit to the Sabbath meal? His courting Sarah, asking her mother for permission and his being turned down? The gift of the food and their reaction? Victoria and Peter's wedding and his presence as a witness, Sarah's coming? The boxing match and her leaving, walking her home, the embrace? her brothers? Falling into the pool, the possibility of the sexual encounter and Sarah's holding off? The brothers taking her home? Her being imprisoned in the. house, David transferred to Egypt? The consummation of their love and Sarah's promise? David at war, his return, hearing of Sarah's wedding? Meeting her and asking her to wait?

6. Sarah and her love for Victoria, attraction towards David, walking and the attack by the Australian? The wedding and her going, her prejudices? Nessim and her love for him? The expectations of the marriage? The Sabbath meal? David's courting her? The boxing match, the embrace the brothers taking her, her clothes being taken, her mother's rule over her, her grandmother? Her going to David, their love and her promise? The wedding to Nessim? Her grim attitude? David coming again and her waiting?

7. Peter and Victoria, the British, love, family prejudice, the decision, the registry office wedding, ostracism, Victoria not able to take the family's attitudes, seeking the annulment?

8. The family and the bonds, the various members of the family, the grandmother, the meals, praying together, the Spanish heritage? The mother and her strength, her disdain for David, his gift, her rule over her daughter, making the clothes? The leg-waxing sequence? The brothers and their protection of their sister; her honour?

9. Nessim and his friendship, explaining the situation to David, love for Sarah, the impending marriage?

10, The situation of the war, audiences expectations about romance - even though the setting is different and exotic? A variation on the Romeo and Juliet theme?