You are here:

Baba Joon

Name: Baba Joon
Director: Yuval Delshad
Released: 2015
Duration: 91 min

Representation Score

3.6/10

Limited

2015

Not Rated

Director

Yuval Delshad

Runtime

91 minutes

Average Rating

No ratings yet

New Showbiz Analysis

Baba Joon is a character-driven drama that centers on the specific lived experiences of an Iranian-Israeli family. It avoids the 'melting pot' cliché, instead providing a nuanced look at how an ethnic minority navigates the social fabric of Israel. The film excels in its authentic ethnic representation and its exploration of intergenerational friction. It uses the specificities of an immigrant household to examine universal themes of identity and rebellion. However, it adheres to traditional gender dynamics, with masculine conflict driving the narrative and female characters playing more mediating roles.

Watch this, not that →

Category Breakdown

Does Baba Joon have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The film lacks explicit LGBTQ+ characters or narratives. The story focuses strictly on patriarchal lineage and the preservation of family continuity.

How does Baba Joon portray gender?

Fair

The story centers on traditional masculinity and the conflicts arising from patriarchal expectations. Female characters play more mediating roles rather than leading ones.

How racially and ethnically diverse is Baba Joon?

Excellent

The film highlights the lived experiences of characters of color, specifically focusing on the Iranian-Israeli diaspora. It avoids generic stereotypes to emphasize the unique cultural identity of a underrepresented community.

How does Baba Joon represent religion and culture?

Good

The narrative delves into the tension between preserving cultural heritage and adapting to a modernizing society. It explores the immigrant experience through the balance of duty and personal growth.

Does Baba Joon include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no prominent depictions of visible or invisible disabilities driving the narrative.

Present on Screen

Authentic portrayal of the Iranian-Israeli diaspora experience.
Avoids generic 'melting pot' clichés in favor of specific cultural identity.
Highlights the unique cultural identity of a underrepresented ethnic group.

Limited or Absent

Relies on traditional masculine frameworks and patriarchal hierarchies.
Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-straight narratives.
Female characters are primarily in mediating roles outside of the main conflict.

Official Synopsis

Yitzhak runs the turkey farm his father built with his own two hands after they emigrated from Iran to Israel. When his son Moti turns thirteen, Yitzhak teaches him the trade, hoping that he will continue the proud family tradition. But Moti doesn't like working in the turkey barn; his passion is fixing up junkyard cars and bringing them back to life. Moti's mother Sarah tries to reconcile between the two, while his grandfather pushes Yitzhak to take a firm hand with his son. Yitzhak takes Moti's refusal to work in the turkey barn as a personal rejection. Though he loves his son dearly, he makes it his mission to impose the family farm on Moti. The arrival of Darius, the uncle from America, sets off a chain of events that will undermine the familial harmony. Soon enough Yitzhak will learn that his son is just as stubborn as he is. The conflict is inevitable.

How are these scores produced? →