Cinema has long been an effective medium for language learning, offering rich insights into the culture of a country or region. That’s why our school hosts an annual Cineforum, a series of film screenings designed for all those who love Mediterranean languages and cultures.

This year, our Cineforum focuses on the theme of migration—a timely and relevant topic deeply intertwined with language barriers and the challenges of navigating diverse cultures. Each month, we will feature a film that explores a unique migration story, presented in a different language.

This year, all proceeds from Cineforum ticket sales will be donated to Mediterranea Saving Humans, an organization committed to helping migrants stranded in Southern Europe. Taalhuis Amsterdam supports Mediterranea and its projects.

The film evening begins with a brief introduction in English, where our teachers provide insights into the film and its director. After the screening, you’ll have time to discuss the film’s themes and practice speaking the language you’re learning—sometimes with group activities or assignments led by the teacher.

This month, we watch The Dove Flyer (2013) by Nissim Dayan.

Time and place: Saturday, 19 October 2024, Muiderstraat 24
Duration: 1h 45m
Languages: Hebrew, Arabic, and Baghdad Jewish Arabic
Subtitles: English

Program
19:00 – Introduction
19:15 – Film
21:00 – Aftertalk

*The ticket price includes one free drink. The movie has English subtitles and the introduction and after-talk sessions will be in English or another language depending on the preference of the participants.

What to expect
Before the screening, our teachers will provide an introduction to the film (in English), offering insights into its context, noteworthy elements, and characteristics of the work and the director. During the introduction you will be provided with some elements that will allow you to fully enjoy the film, not only from the point of view of its artistic beauty but also from the point of view of its cultural content.

After watching the film, there will be time to discuss and chat more about what we have seen and share discoveries and points of view. If possible, we will use the language you are learning with fellow students, teachers, and native speakers.

About the movie
“The Dove Flyer” is a 2013 film directed by Nissim Dayan, who also wrote the screenplay based on the novel with the same name, by Iraqi-born Jewish writer Eli Amir. The film depicts the story of the last days of the Baghdad Jewish community of the 1950s, and on the eve of the Aliyah: the immigration of the Jewish from the diaspora to the Land of Israel. This community was the world’s oldest Jewish community and a very big part of Baghdad’s population. Through the eyes of a 16-year-old Jewish boy, we see the struggle of a community torn between historical and cultural ties to Iraq and support for the emerging state of Israel.

The Dove Flyer challenges the stereotypes about Arab Jews in Israel and the Arab world. In Israeli cinema, the film presents a new type of Mizrahi (Oriental Jews) film, unlike the usual style of Borakas films, which portray Mizrahi Jews in a stereotypical backward image. In addition, the film received wide positive reviews in Israel, as it sheds light on the suffering and violence that Arab Jews were subjected to before their immigration, while the emerging Israeli state marginalised them.