An American Hippie in Israel

Yes, we're back. We have a philosophical conundrum for you Friday night dinner table: How bad does something bad need to be, so that we think it's good? Don't worry, it's a movie. Arthouse film buffs already know this phenomenon: Cult midnight movies, screened on Fridays or Thursdays, that turn into mass ritualistic events. The illustrious likes of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Planet Blue are now joined by An American Hippie In Israel, a proud contender to the title of worst, and most amusing, Israeli film of all time. How bad is it? We won't spoil the ending. Nadav Bornstein investigated: Why do we deserve this? If 20 people bought tickets to see this film, that means we made it. What would you say if I told you over 100 people bought tickets? No! -I'll pass out. -I don't believe it. After a short 40-year delay, finally, Israel's supposed worst movie of all time: "An American Hippie In Israel". The direction is exaggerated. The writing is ridiculous. Mostly improvised. Exaggerated acting. Embarrassing to watch. Shelved right after it was completed. This terrible film is now becoming one of 2010's biggest arthouse hits. We laughed, cried on the inside, died a little on the inside... It was... hysterical. It was simply beautiful. The film is very contemporary. Fascinating anthropological piece. Nothing can really prepare you for watching this film. "The Hitchhiker: A Hippie's Guide To Israel" (???) was shot in '72, inspired by American "Make Love Not War" values. In the film, a hippie tourist arrives in Israel and attempts to start an isolated community where everyone's equal, and everyone's in love. And then some. The film failed and was abandoned, but a month ago, got a new lease on life: Packed midnight screenings, return audiences... An American Hippie In Israel is becoming a cult film. All over the world, this is a familiar phenomenon. Ed Wood's B movies and The Rocky Horror Picture Show have long had their day in the sun. But this is the first time this phenomenon occurs in Israel. So, how does it happen? We put together a detailed guide: This is how to turn your failure into a cult movie. 1: Unshelving You have to have a kind of evangelist, someone who'll take the film, recognize the cult moments, point them out, and turn it into a community thing. The film wasn't on anyone's radar because nobody knew it existed. It wasn't listed anywhere. I saw it for the first time online. I didn't know what the heck it was, and how come there's a movie called An American Hippie In Israel that was made in the 70's, and that I'm not aware of. I knew I wouldn't rest until I found it. Eidelstein decided to seek out the actors. He soon found the lead actors, Shmuel Wolf and Asher Tsarfati. They also had a copy of the film. From there, it was straight to the cinematheque. They sit there, roaring with laughter, almost throughout the whole film. They surround us, after the screening, like... I don't know what. -Two 30 year old guys asked for my autograph. I thought they were kidding me. -Yeah. 2: (Very) Bad Direction It's so bad, it has to be good. Everything's exaggerated: the cinematography, the acting, the dialogs. There's no way they were serious when they made it. When you said your lines, didn't you feel they were stupid? No. I didn't. I thought it was a good piece. My daughters said "Dad, it's a bad movie. "But not because of you, the actors. The plot's ridiculous. "You actors are great." The film was directed by Amos Sefer, lifeguard, electrician and unemployed actor, who came back from film school in London with a dream to make the first Israeli film in color. My father had the charisma and the talent to do very artistic, creative things. He dreamed that people could live freely and naturally. He wrote a script, and even found an investor: The owner of a pillow factory. In order to reach an international audience, the two decided to make the film in English. Actors who didn't speak the language were dubbed. 3: Sex & Violence Preferably exaggerated, preferably excessive, preferably even gratuitous. It was very ***, there was *** intercourse there, the women walked around with their bras off, flower children... I was very young, and pretended I didn't mind. The director wants nudity? I'll do it nude. He wants sex? I'll give him sex. The phone rang at 2:30, 3:00 A.M. Fun-loving actors, Asher Tsarfati and Lilli Avidan, enjoyed their scenes. Her husband? Not so much. I pick up the phone, half-asleep. "Yes, this is David Avidan. "I heard there was actual sex between you two. "Because if that's true, I have to charge the production more." You know what the viewers are wondering now. How much did he charge? -Exactly. 4: Naivete You can't make a cult film on purpose. Someone making his authentic thing, who truly thinks he's making something wonderful... I felt "This is it. I'm going to be a star." With his good looks, he would've gone to Hollywood if this film had succeeded. It has a kind of naivete which is exaggerated, ridiculous... He thought he was making an antiwar film, and that was the thing back then: Vietnam, protests in the US... Shlomo Artzi wanted to score the film, and my dad heard it and wasn't impressed. He said it wasn't good enough and decided not to use it. The score was eventually written by Nahum Heiman, with a little help from his friends. One night, I came back at 1:00 A.M., and who do I see, standing in front of me? David Bowie. I said, "Mr. Bowie, may I ask what are you doing in my elevator?" We became friends, we're good friends to this day, and he steered me toward the style of British pop. 5: Nostalgia Cult films are films we discover after the fact, and there's something about this nostalgia that's hard to ignore. Over there. We walked over there. That walk... -By the beach. Yes, as if we came from the beach. There's a sequence where they walk around Tel Aviv, Dizengoff square, Rabin square... We walked here. I was the king of the world. I felt like the king of the world. Here. Now that the rules are clear, let's see them in practice, at the American Hippie In Israel gala premiere. Tsarfati and Wolf, as we saw, tried to lower expectations. If 20 people bought tickets to see this film, that means we made it. But they were dead wrong. How many tickets did you sell? -214. For a midnight screening, is that big or small? -It's huge. 38 years after being shelved and disappearing into darkness, "An American Hippie In Israel" is finally screened. How did the screening go? Here, I'll tell you. Did you get it? My wife almost peed herself laughing. She laughed so much... She couldn't believe her eyes. About 10 girls had their picture taken with us. What would the director say, if he were here? He'd say, "You see? "In the end, I proved I made a good film." Now, Israel has its own cult movie, and soon, perhaps even a sequel. "Asher & Shmuel ride again." No, no need for a sequel. OK...