
Is Everything Is Broken Up and Dances Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2016)
Nony Geffen, a 30 year old student living in Tel Aviv with his roommate Rotem, is a musician and is secretly in love with Hadas. He is called up for a military operation in Gaza . The APC, in which he and his unit are riding, is hit by a Hamas rocket. Nony is the sole survivor. He comes back from Gaza a different person and is cared for by his parents and a military psychiatrist. After lengthy psychiatric treatment Nony starts to communicate again – only now he is convinced that he is ‘Amnon’, the deceased uncle for whom he was named. Amnon had been an unrecognized singer. Nony is not a singer and now he doesn’t even remember how to play. At first, when Nony performs, people laugh at this strange guy but then he becomes a phenomenon. When he is at the height of his success on the one hand, but also at the height of his mental disorder, Nony meets Hadas again.
✨ The Quick Verdict
If you are a fan of Drama, War, Comedy, Music cinema, then Everything Is Broken Up and Dances offers a standard experience that justifies its existence in the 2016 landscape.
👥 Target Audience
📔 Detailed Analysis
The Narrative Arc & Core Premise
Everything Is Broken Up and Dances, a standout production of 2016, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Drama, War, Comedy, Music landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into Nony Geffen, a 30 year old student living in Tel Aviv with his roommate Rotem, is a musician and is secretly in love with Hadas. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Drama, War, Comedy, Music are tested.
The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "Nony Geffen, a 30 year old student living in Tel Aviv with his roommate Rotem, is a musician and is secretly in love with Hadas. He is called up for a military operation in Gaza . The APC, in which he and his unit are riding, is hit by a Hamas rocket. Nony is the sole survivor. He comes back from Gaza a different person and is cared for by his parents and a military psychiatrist. After lengthy psychiatric treatment Nony starts to communicate again – only now he is convinced that he is ‘Amnon’, the deceased uncle for whom he was named. Amnon had been an unrecognized singer. Nony is not a singer and now he doesn’t even remember how to play. At first, when Nony performs, people laugh at this strange guy but then he becomes a phenomenon. When he is at the height of his success on the one hand, but also at the height of his mental disorder, Nony meets Hadas again."
Artistic Execution & Performance Study
A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Nony Geffen does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.
The direction by Nony Geffen is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 98 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.
Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch
Is Everything Is Broken Up and Dances truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Drama, War, Comedy, Music, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.
The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 2.3/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.
Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision
At a deeper level, Everything Is Broken Up and Dances explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2016 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Nony Geffen respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.
The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.
Final Editorial Recommendation
Ultimately, Everything Is Broken Up and Dances is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Nony Geffen or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Everything Is Broken Up and Dances is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.
⏳ Time Investment
At approximately 1.6 hours, the film requires a standard time commitment.