DVD Bites: Or (My Treasure)

I first saw Keren Yedaya's drama, which arrives on DVD today, over two years ago at the New York Film Festival, and it is surprising how vividly the powerful story stuck in my head. Or, played by the fearless Dana Ivgy, is the serious and determined daughter of an Israeli prostitute. To rehabilitate her self-destructive mother and set her own life on a better path, Or works hard, tirelessly: going to school, waiting tables, searching for cans to recycle on the beach--and also taking care of her mother, who has recently been released from the hospital and is intent upon returning to her profession. But Or is also a teenager, with a boyfriend and an irresistible smile. It is painful to watch her efforts fail--on all accounts. Without any support from outside, she cannot control her irresponsible parent, or her own actions. When a man wants Or, she gives herself freely, no matter if it's a boy in an alleyway or a soldier returning from the front. "Or (My Treasure)" won the Camera d'Or at Cannes in 2004. 4 out of 5 stars. Compare Prices. [posted by Marcy]