Just a Regular Night at the Movies

One might think that “going to the movies” in Israel is quite similar to the US, but it is the subtle differences that remind you that you are not in Kansas anymore. Last night I went to the movies, but instead of just walking in and grabbing a seat, you have assigned seats, like on an airplane. True, if the theater is not full then you can sit somewhere else, but I amazed by how strictly Israelis follow this rule. They have no problem smoking in front of a “No Smoking” sign in the mall, but in a movie theater they check twice to make sure they are in the correct seat.

Next comes the pre-show. Both in Israel and in the States, it is now common to see commercial ads before the movie previews. Of course if you are in Israel 3 days before elections, all of the ads are about which political party to vote for. Moreover, many of the ads were more focused on telling you why you shouldn’t vote for one party and only at the end, flash their logo.

And finally, no Israeli movie is complete without a bathroom break in the middle. It never ceases to humor me how a movie can just stop, even mid-scene, for a 10 minute “hafsaka” (break) to stretch your legs, go to the toilet or smoke a cigarette.

Gotta love the silver screen.