The Coachella Valley Number ‘One’ Desert Local Newspaper
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STAR W E E K L Y
PRESORTED STANDARD
Local business owner Tim Radigan Brophy was on hand to present a check to Councilman Scott Matas and DHS Police Chief Chuck Maynard to replace the lobby furniture in the department’s lobby. Mr. Radigan-Brophy is a longtime supporter of the department and a variety of other non-profits in the community.
US POSTAGE PAID Desert Hot Springs, CA PERMIT NO 00005
January 14, 2015 Vol. 8 No. 3
The Trial of Viviane Amsalem Black Comedy About Divorce Israeli-Style Is Cinema Of The Absurd By Jack Lyons Theatre and Film Critic For all those cineastes who miss seeing work from the likes of Eugene Ionesco and Samuel Beckett, and the rest of the “theatre of the absurd” gang, take heart. The new Israeli dark dramedy film “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” is a worthy semantics-laden candidate to warm the cockles of your heart. The melodrama cleverly written and directed by the
brother-sister team of Ronit Elkabertz and Shlomi Elkabertz introduces to non-Israeli audiences the complicated nature of its legal system concerning marriage and divorce. In theocracies, religious law trumps all varieties of civil law procedures that are common in most other countries. In Israel there is neither civil marriage nor civil divorce. Only rabbis can legitimize a marriage or a dissolution. But this dissolution is only possible with
the full consent of the husband (oh,oh), and herein lies the story and plotline of the movie. The film opens in a courtroom setting where Viviane Amsalem (Ronit Elkabertz) has been applying for a divorce from her husband Elisha (Sasson Gabai) for three years. She is represented by her lawyer Carmel Ben-Tovim (Menashe Noy), who presents her case and legal papers to a three rabbi tribunal led by head rabbi (Eli Gorenstein). These
three gentlemen will eventually adjudicate Viviane’s petition. Needless to say, all parties are extremely frustrated after three years of continuances, and delays as all wait to bring closure to Viviane’s petition. Everyone that is, except Elisha, Viviane’s husband, who keeps saying No, I don’t want a divorce. The main sticking point is Elisha’s continuing refusal to agree to the divorce. He just keeps saying “no” every time the rabbinical court tries to bring
an agreement to the proceedings. He has been placed in jail for contempt of court rulings, but each time when the case begins again, he merely says “No” and it’s back to square one. Under the law Elisha has more power than the rabbinical court. Witnesses come and go and the trial keeps being delayed in order for the court and the parties involved “to agree” to Viviane’s Continues on Page 10
Elvis Presley ‘The Unforgettable Legend’
DESERT STAR WEEKLY LIVE AT THE SCENE By Carolyn W. Gaines Palm Springs. Ca . Elvis Presley’s 80th Birthday Celebration was at his honeymoon hideaway house. Some of the guests were his friends such as Glen Glenn “One Cup of Coffee” Chan Romero “Hippy Hippy Shake” Jamie Nudie ‘’Nudies of Hollywood’’ Audrey Ruttan ‘’Charlie Chaplin’’ Look a like, and starring AwardWinning Chance Tinder Artist, and the Phil Friendly Band. The house was built in 1960 the atmosphere of this dwelling was a very impressive old home. The house is a tourism house
now for Elvis Presley’s fans. He moved into the home for it to be his Honeymoon home. He proposed to Pricilla December 1966 in that home. Let’s Chat About Elvis Presley: Host Darling Presley said,” I always felt that I was going to protect his legacy.” Darling is the docent of Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway.” Darling: What message can you send to the children about Elvis Presley? She said,’’ Rock and Roll didn’t begin with Justin Bieber.” Audrey Ruttan’s celebrity
impersonator of Charlie Chaplin: Audrey: What can you say about Elvis Presley on his 80th birthday? She said,” Elvis and Charlie’s legacies will live on forever.’’ Audrey: What message can you send the children about Elvis? She said,” Stay true to your talents like Elvis Presley did.” Dick Grob who was Elvis Presley’s head security until his death August 16, 1977. Dick: Where is Elvis Presley Guitars? He said,” at Graceland.” Dick: Did Elvis know anything about Blues? Continues on Page 4