The Steven Spielberg Jewish Film Archive Collection

The first days

27 Minutes, 1962
Genre:
Documentary

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Directed by: Helga Keller
Production:Henry Roth
Photographer: Anthony Heller, Shimon Dari
Original Music: Melvyn Keller
Narrator: Haim Yavin
Languages: Hebrew, French
| Subtitles not available

This documentary movie was produced for the Jewish Agency. The movie follows the absorption process of six north african immigrant families that arrived with the Flaminia ship. The movie shows the immigrants’ hopes and worries through their absorption process. The immigrants arrive at the Jewish Agency office where they go through the process of getting their citizenship and visit the bureau of labor where they get assigned to their new job. This encounter sheds light on the challenges of the immigrants when their desires didn’t always align with the needs and demands of the state. For example, Joseph Levi, 43 years old, was a driver in his country of origin. But now he is told he can’t yet work as a driver since he doesn’t have an Israeli license. The movie also shows Dimona as a developing city. A city where its citizens are overcoming their challenges towards a better future.