LEMON POPSICLE
Israel, 1978, 95 minutes, Colour.
Directed by Boaz Davidson.
Lemon Popsicle has very little to commend it, although it was screened in the main competition at the Berlin film festival and was nominated for a Golden Globe for best foreign film. However, it may have been rather daring and sex-preoccupied in the late 70s – it was. However, in succeeding decades there were many many films like this including the American Pie series. This film focuses on four teenagers who are sex-preoccupied in Israel in the 1950s (an Israel that seems very much like the United States of later decades). They get into all kinds of difficulties, have to grow up, show their immaturity, tackle questions like prostitution, abortion. Probably the only value of seeing it now is as a historical film, a perspective from the 70s about life in Israel and adolescent sexuality.
1. The name, the background, musical, adolescence? Israeli film? Tel Aviv in the 1950s?
2. The conventions of the youth film? Characters, music, school, recreation, sexuality? Presented with insight, verve?
3. Colour photography, atmosphere of Tel Aviv? The television and interests of the 50s? Music?
4. How Interesting the plot? credible exploration of three teenagers? Benjy as hero – background, family life? Infatuation with Nikki, sexuality, drinking, the rivalry with Bobby? The contrast with Hugh and his size, money? Bobby and his charm and the way that it soured? Credible interaction of boys at this age?
5. How well explored was Benjy? Seeing him sufficiently with his dominating but loving mother, his father? At school, meeting Nikki, parties, disappointments? The indication of adolescent immaturity, the sequence with the prostitute, with Stella, the worry about the itch? The change with his helping of Nikki? His disillusionment at the end and the film’s leaving him there?
6, Bobby as the charmer, friendly, callow? Hugh and his being the follower? The other boys and the scenes at school? The preoccupation with sex?
7. Nikki as heroine? Attractive? at the restaurant, going to school? Her liking Bobby at the parties and dances? The pregnancy and Benjy's reaction? The fight with Bobby at the school auditorium? Benjy looking after her, her reaction especially in telling him of the pregnancy, being looked after, the interview with the abortionist, the experience of the abortion? Her kissing Bobby in the kitchen and her look to Benjy? The film's comment on the behaviour of Nikki and Bobby?
8. The presentation of the adults - the parent generation, teachers? Stella and her seducing the boys? The iceman and his lending the money? The abortionist and his attitude? The prostitute and her treatment of the boys?
9. The selected world of the adolescent horizons? What kind of men would these three boys grow into?
10. Comment on the musical background - the popular American songs of the time, their being of interest in Israel? The way that they were used as comment on the action, eg. ‘Puppy Love’? A convincing use of contemporary music to illustrate atmosphere, themes?
11. How exploitive was the film in its presentation of youth and their problems? How much insight, sympathy?
12. The merits of this film as an Israeli film with Israeli interests? Its universal appeal? Its imitation of the American style and what this says about the Israeli film industry and its interests?
