Overview
ISRAELI FILM PAPER – COMPLETE RESTART INSTRUCTIONS
I would like to completely restart my paper from the beginning and build a stronger final version that closely follows my professor's expectations and feedback.
MOVIES TO USE
Please watch and analyze the following films:
- Sallah Shabati (1964)
https://m.ok.ru/video/1521988602569 - Givat Halfon Eina Ona (1976)
https://vk.com/video-122686988_456239023
Important:
- The films are in Hebrew.
- The final paper will be written in English.
- If necessary, please locate versions with English subtitles or use reliable resources to fully understand the films.
- Do not rely solely on plot summaries. Please understand the major themes, characters, social issues, and historical context presented in both films.
PROFESSOR'S REQUIREMENTS
My professor specifically emphasized that the paper must clearly answer the following:
- What is the research question?
- What is the hypothesis (thesis)?
- How does the paper prove the argument?
The paper should be structured as a clear academic argument rather than simply a summary of the films.
RESEARCH QUESTION
How do Sallah Shabati (1964) and Givat Halfon Eina Ona (1976) use comedy to comment on social and cultural issues in Israeli society?
WORKING THESIS / HYPOTHESIS
The paper should argue that both films use comedy, satire, and humor as tools for social criticism. Although the films focus on different settings and groups of people, both films expose social tensions, questions of identity, institutional problems, and divisions within Israeli society.
PAPER LENGTH
5–6 full pages.
PAPER STRUCTURE
INTRODUCTION
The introduction should:
- Briefly introduce Israeli cinema.
- Explain the role of comedy in Israeli film.
- Clearly state the research question.
- Clearly state the thesis.
- Include a roadmap explaining how the paper will prove the thesis.
BODY SECTION 1 – IMMIGRATION AND INTEGRATION IN SALLAH SHABATI
Focus on:
- Immigration
- Integration into Israeli society
- Difficulties faced by immigrants
- Social mobility
- Everyday struggles
Questions to answer:
- What challenges does Sallah face?
- What do those challenges reveal about Israeli society?
- How does comedy help communicate these issues?
BODY SECTION 2 – ETHNIC DIVISIONS AND SOCIAL HIERARCHY
Focus on:
- Social divisions
- Stereotypes
- Cultural differences
- Social hierarchy
- Identity
Questions to answer:
- What tensions are shown?
- How does humor expose those tensions?
- What social criticism is being made?
BODY SECTION 3 – BUREAUCRACY AND GOVERNMENT
Focus on:
- Government institutions
- Political organizations
- Bureaucracy
- Public officials
Questions to answer:
- How are institutions portrayed?
- What criticism does the film make?
- How does comedy make the criticism more effective?
BODY SECTION 4 – MILITARY LIFE IN GIVAT HALFON EINA ONA
Focus on:
- Military life
- Social interaction
- Different groups within Israeli society
- Shared national experiences
Questions to answer:
- Why is the military an important setting?
- What social differences appear?
- What does the film reveal about Israeli society?
BODY SECTION 5 – AUTHORITY AND INSTITUTIONS
Focus on:
- Military leadership
- Authority figures
- Institutional criticism
- Satire
Questions to answer:
- How are leaders portrayed?
- What criticism is being made?
- How does satire support the overall argument?
BODY SECTION 6 – COMPARISON OF THE TWO FILMS
This should be one of the strongest sections of the paper.
Compare:
- Immigration versus military life
- Bureaucracy versus military authority
- Different settings but similar goals
- Use of comedy and satire
- Social criticism
- Israeli identity
- Social divisions
- National belonging
Explain how both films ultimately use comedy to encourage audiences to reflect on Israeli society.
CONCLUSION
The conclusion should:
- Directly answer the research question.
- Restate the thesis.
- Summarize the evidence used to prove the thesis.
- Explain what the films reveal about Israeli society.
- Explain why these films remain important today.
WRITING REQUIREMENTS
- Do not simply summarize the plot.
- Focus on analysis rather than description.
- Every section should help prove the thesis.
- Make comparisons throughout the paper.
- Use smooth transitions between sections.
- Avoid repetition.
- Make the writing sound natural, polished, and student-written.
- Keep the paper academically strong while remaining readable.
- Ensure the argument is easy for the professor to follow.
FINAL CHECK BEFORE SUBMISSION
Please make sure the final paper clearly identifies:
- Research Question
- Thesis / Hypothesis
- Evidence
- Analysis
- Comparison
- Conclusion
Most importantly, the professor should be able to immediately understand the paper's argument and how each section contributes to proving that argument.