Gift from Above (2003)

Gift from Above (2003) – When fate is a dark and random game

Among the notable Israeli films of the early 2000s, Gift from Above (Matana MiShamayim) by director Dover Koshashvili is a standout – not only for its strangeness, but also for the way the film cleverly turns the lives of small people upside down to shine a light on society, prejudice and survival.

An apartment building, a miniature world
The main setting of the film is an old building – home to people almost forgotten by society. They are not rich, not powerful, not idealistic, but just ordinary people with small dreams, big mistakes, and some strange connection to each other.

From the very beginning, Gift from Above does not follow the conventional storytelling path. The plot is built like a tangled web of events, where each character – from the smuggler, the young girl torn between freedom and tradition, to the mother who has lost faith – is caught in an unexpected vortex, from which they cannot escape.

Humorous? Yes. Tragic? Yes. But no one is truly evil.
The beauty of Gift from Above is that, despite its dark comedy and social satire, the film never loses its humanity in its character development. No one in the film is entirely bad, but no one is truly good either. Each person is held back by something in life – money, religion, sex, cultural prejudice – and they manage as if trapped in their own fate.

Director Koshashvili is particularly skillful in creating moments that are both funny and poignant, where laughter can turn to sighs in a matter of seconds. The characters are not flashy, but they make viewers remember - because they are so real.

In terms of art and film rhythm
Gift from Above's filming style is rough, the light is sometimes harsh, sometimes gloomy - just like the character's mood. The director does not try to "beautify" reality, but uses the roughness to reflect it. The film's rhythm may be a bit slow and difficult to grasp at first, but later on, you will find yourself drawn into its "logical chaos".

The music is also an interesting plus - both Middle Eastern folk and a bit ghostly, creating an atmosphere that is both familiar and strange, very suitable for the absurdity that the film is leading.

Conclusion: A "gift from heaven" that is not easy to swallow, but very worthwhile
Gift from Above is the type of film that does not please the audience, does not explain too much, and is not easy to love at first sight. But if you like thoughtful cinema – where the characters are a mirror of society and fate is always out of your control, then this is a great work. A "gift from heaven" – but not sweet or sparkling, but a gift that makes you wonder, think and maybe... laugh in a choked voice.