The Euphoric Decade: Vulgar poetics and dishonesty in post-1967 Israeli films

Film was the most notable expression of the Israeli mood during the decade between 1967 and 1977 which was characterized by “euphoric” and quasi-capitalist freedom, which found its implementation in what can be termed “vulgar poetics”. The formal characteristics of this poetics of vulgarity, matching the characteristics of euphoric consciousness, were excess and lack of inhibition or subtlety. This is manifested in the thematic reduction of the films’ subjects and in their dishonesty in their excessive portrayal of action in war, sexual license and ethnic stereotypes, and in their blunt disregard for style and artistic restraint. These characteristics are detected in the three main film genres that evolved during this period: war films, “Personal” films and “Burekas” films (comedies focused on inter-ethnic relations), with particular focus on the films of Uri Zohar.