The Israel Film Archive (IFA) has expanded its collection of classic Israeli cinema available for rental, adding the 1977 film Operation Thunderbolt, a notable dramatization of the 1976 Entebbe hijacking and subsequent rescue mission. Directed by Menahem Golan, the film features Yehoram Gaon portraying the late Special Forces commander Yoni Netanyahu. The cast includes several prominent Israeli actors of the time, such as Assi Dayan, Gila Almagor, and Shaike Ophir, the latter serving as the namesake for Israel’s Ophir Awards. German actor Klaus Kinski appears as one of the hijackers.
In addition to this historic film, the IFA collection offers works by acclaimed director Avi Nesher. His latest film, Our Loves, received 12 nominations at the Ophir Awards and was accepted into the Toronto International Film Festival. Viewers can also access his earlier film Turn Left at the End of the World, which explores the friendship between two teenage girls—one an Indian immigrant and the other from a Moroccan family—in a Negev town during the 1960s.
On the international front, actress Anne Hathaway stars in several high-profile films this summer, including The Devil Wears Prada 2, now streaming on Disney+ and Apple TV+, the upcoming Oscar-contender The Odyssey in which she plays Penelope, and the upcoming family-friendly film The End of Oak Street, centered around rampaging dinosaurs in a suburban setting. August typically features lighter, summer blockbuster films, often catering to younger audiences during the school vacation period.
For those seeking dinosaur-themed entertainment at home, streaming platforms offer a wide range of options. Netflix provides access to classics like Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park (1993), known for its groundbreaking special effects and suspenseful sequences, along with Jurassic World (2015). Amazon Prime Video and Apple TV+ also feature several entries in the Jurassic franchise.
Parents considering programming for younger viewers might evaluate the new Little House on the Prairie reboot available on Netflix. This adaptation departs from the nostalgic tone of the original 1970s-80s series, presenting a more complex and historically nuanced portrayal of pioneer life. The new series addresses issues such as the contested settlement of land inhabited by the Osage Nation and explores the challenges faced by the Ingalls family as they build a home in 19th-century America. While it retains elements of the original’s charm, including outdoor exploration and family dynamics, the reboot introduces mature themes that may prompt discussion about historical context and cultural change.
Finally, Netflix has reintroduced the 1963 musical film Bye Bye Birdie, a satirical take on celebrity culture during the Elvis Presley era. The film follows a New York songwriter, Albert (Dick Van Dyke), and his secretary, Rosie, as they scheme to capitalize on the final public appearance of a rock-and-roll star drafted into the military. Although the musical numbers remain entertaining, especially Van Dyke’s performances, the overall plot reflects the social attitudes and Cold War humor of its time, which may feel outdated to contemporary viewers.
The Israel Film Archive continues to serve as a resource for those interested in exploring Israeli cinema history, offering a range of titles available for viewing at https://jfc.org.il/en/.