Ajami (film)

Ajami is a 2009 Israeli drama film directed by Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani. It is a collaborative effort, co-written by Copti and Shani, and features a largely non-professional cast of Arab and Jewish actors, many of whom were residents of the Ajami neighborhood of Jaffa, where the film is set.

The film employs a non-linear narrative structure, interweaving several storylines centered around crime, family, and forbidden love within the multi-ethnic and socio-economically challenged Ajami neighborhood. These storylines explore themes of religious tension, poverty, and the complexities of life in a mixed Jewish-Arab community.

Ajami garnered critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of life in Ajami, its powerful performances, and its unflinching examination of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a grassroots level. It won numerous awards, including the Caméra d'Or special distinction at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. The film is notable for its use of multiple languages, reflecting the diverse linguistic landscape of the neighborhood, including Arabic, Hebrew, and English.