- All cinematheque content is available indefinitely
- Discounted rates apply to guest content
Director Nubi Habib’s film is still remembered for three main reasons: it is the first Israeli film to have been shot in technicolour, not to mention the first one to feature Mizrahi protagonists, specifically Yemeni Jews. Last but not least, it is a chance for viewers to watch the late grande dame of Israeli folk, Shoshana Damari, showcase her singing and acting skills on camera.
The story is set in 1926, Yemen. Naama, a popular nightclub singer, learns of her Jewish roots whilst around her, a series of violent Antisemitic attacks, orchestrated by the local Arab population, continues. Following an encounter with a shepherd and a Jewish boy whose parents were murdered, she joins a small group of Jews who are planning to move to the Holy Land (then-British Mandatory Palestine).
Their journey is long, arduous, and treacherous but at the end, the group finally reach their coveted destination, as Shoshana Damari bursts into song against the backdrop of Israeli vistas shot in technicolour: “Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away” (Isaiah 51:11, music by Moshe Wilensky).
We recommend that you view the website in vertical mode.
An e-mail was sent to you. To recover the password, click on the link.
There is a problem to recover the password, please try again.
This option is only available to registered users.
Registration is free and recommended for everyone – Registered users can save and rate films, write and share personal reviews, and lots more.
Orphaned Work Disclaimer
All rights are reserved to the Jerusalem Cinematheque – Israeli Film Archive (RA) and the rights holders of the works. Any use of works on the website for non-individual and non-personal purposes is strictly prohibited without prior, written permission.
For more information about the rights holders, please visit the relevant collection page, or contact the Jerusalem Cinematheque – Israeli Film Archive (RA) offices.
We have the utmost respect for all rights holders’ copyright and put great efforts to track down any and all intellectual property owners for the purpose of seeking and obtaining permission to use their materials featured on the website.
Any and all materials are used in accordance with clause 27a of the 2007 Copyright Act. If you believe that your rights as intellectual property and copyright owners of any material featured on this website have been compromised, then you may contact the Israeli Film Archive via email with a cease-and-desist notice, requesting that the material in alleged copyright infringement no longer be used. When contacting the archive, please state the merit to your copyright ownership claim, as well as your full name, email address, and telephone number, with a link to the relevant webpage.
Standard Work Disclaimer
All rights are reserved to the Jerusalem Cinematheque – Israeli Film Archive (RA) and the rights holders of the works. Any use of works on the website for non-individual and non-personal purposes is strictly prohibited without prior, written permission.
For more information about the rights holders, please visit the relevant collection page, or contact the Jerusalem Cinematheque – Israeli Film Archive (RA) offices.
We have the utmost respect for all rights holders’ copyright and put great efforts to track down any and all intellectual property owners for the purpose of seeking and obtaining permission to use their materials featured on the website.
Any and all materials are used in accordance with clause 27a of the 2007 Copyright Act. If you believe that your rights as intellectual property and copyright owners of any material featured on this website have been compromised, then you may contact the Israeli Film Archive via email with a cease-and-desist notice, requesting that the material in alleged copyright infringement no longer be used. When contacting the archive, please state the merit to your copyright ownership claim, as well as your full name, email address, and telephone number, with a link to the relevant webpage.
This will close in 0 seconds