Director: Nadav Bin Nun
Cinematography: Omer Naveh
Music: Dganit Elyakim
“The Soft German” is an art film that takes place in Israel. The timing of the movie is crucial as it takes place during the week that commemorates events that form the core of the Zionist agenda: Holocaust remembrance day, followed by soldiers memorial day and culminating in Israel’s independence day. Through the rituals of this traditionalised week, the film presents the metamorphosis of ‘the third generation’ in Israel – from victims to aggressors.
The actors are all Israeli, including the German characters who are distinguished by fake blonde wigs and floppily dyed hair. Although they perform the scenes in Hebrew, they are dubbed into German. Echoing that, the soundtrack is based on German music, from iconic composers to German pop music. Painting Tel Aviv, the heart of Israel, in German colours and culture, emphasising the inevitable bound and connection between Zionism and European culture, as well as the political ideologies that rose in parallel. While the entire film is dubbed, mostly into German and English, creating a sense of alienation, the effect of the soundtrack walks a thin line between dubbing and music.
The different quotations (samples) are taken from the extraordinary audio archives available on the Net. All under Creative Commons license.
The full movie:
Excerpts from The Soft German:
Heal Helper!
The Pianophiles greatest run
Stasimon: Agnus Dei
Mackie Dancer