Ninas Tragedies

This lovingly crafted Israeli film neatly combines kinky eroticism, drama, and quirky comedy. An interlocking series of stories are all observed or heard about by 14-year-old Nadav, who, beneath his glasses, braces, and bad haircut, suffers tortured longing for his sexy aunt, Nina. He and his adult friend, Menahem, peep at Nina through her apartment windows to see her when she gets undressed and is involved in sexual activity. Nadiv's father left the family to join a yeshiva, and when Haimon dies in a terrorist bombing, mum sends Nadav to live with Nina. It's Nadav's dream come true, until his aunt falls for an overly emotional photographer and starts seeing her dead husband walking naked down the street. Gabizon's film sparkles with nuance, odd coincidences, and hilarious, sudden plot digressions; and the warm colour photography glows throughout. It's tragic without being cloying, funny without being shrill, and best of all, very witty and irreverent.