If I had to guess I’d say Israelis have a love-hate relationship with military service, which is mandatory in their country for everyone and which lasts two years. In fact, it’s probably a hate-hate thing. Winner of six of the equivalent of the Oscars in Israel and winner of the Best Narrative Feature Award at the Tribeca Film Festival ”Zero motivation” is a sharply observed, sometimes dark and frequently hilarious portrait of everyday life for a unit of young, female soldiers in a remote Israeli desert outpost. Playing out like M*A*S*H meets “Orange is the New Black” Talya Lavie’s notable debut highlights the power struggles of three women with different agendas with gusto.

Pencil pushers in the H.R. department, best friends Zohar (Dana Ivgy) and Daffi (Nelly Tagar) spend their time playing video games, singing pop songs, jousting with stationery and dreaming of the beaches of Tel Aviv. The indolent twosome are watched over by their aspiring senior officer, Rama (Shani Klein, featured image), who is aiming for a higher position and a significant military career. Holding down a platoon of unskilled, idle, female soldiers without any drive her ambitions for promotion are nevertheless constantly thwarted. With shifts of tone that go from slapstick to satirical to horrifying with fluid ease and a gung-ho ensemble cast ”Zero motivation” is on its way to conquer the arthouse set in major markets (article is a preview; a review of the film will follow)

WATCH the trailer here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SV4ptfyaQFA&feature=youtu.be

Color / Aspect ratio: 1: 1.85 / Sound SRD 5.1 Not Rated (in Hebrew with English subtitles)