You don't have to be Israeli (but it helps)

If you've never heard of Josie Katz and Shmuel (Shmulik) Kraus, you should watch some YouTube clips before sitting down to this movie, because although the movie doesn't include complete songs, music is what both explains the connection between the two spouses (Katz remarks in the movie that the most important thing a man can bring to her is melodies) and explains why the whole population of Israel cares about them. Josie Katz rose to fame as a talented, sexy, dewy-eyed nymph. You could say she was Israel's Mary Tyler Moore. However, try to imagine Mary Tyler Moore paired not with Dick Van Dyke but with Anthony Quinn. Shmuel Kraus was a tortured, pugnacious, uncontrollable man. But he's been compared with John Lennon for his talent at making music seem to arise integrally from a set of lyrics. This documentary is one- sidedly from Katz's point of view, but it tells a convincing story. The story is mildly tragic; it's somewhat like A Star Is Born except that as the old star falls, he brings the new star's career down with his own. Then they both struggle onward. It helps to be familiar with the Israeli entertainment scene surrounding the couple, and of course it helps to know Hebrew, but the subtitles are adequate. Actually they're adequate until the last line of the movie, which quotes a song lyric that would be an especially fine ending if, as the subtitler seems to have thought, it was about finding love. But it's actually about finding work.

The documentary is a form of non-fiction storytelling that aims to present factual information, insights, and perspectives on real-world subjects, events, issues, or people. Documentaries can cover a wide range of topics, including history, science, culture, social issues, nature, biographies, and more.

Dziga Vertov in Man with a Movie Camera (1929)

The music genre features stories showcasing musical performances, music-related documentaries and recordings of live concerts and music festivals.

Prince and Apollonia Kotero in Purple Rain (1984)

"All is Well by Me" chronicles the private and professional life of singer Josie Katz, who came to Israel from the US as a 19-year-old kibbutz volunteer and soon became an important player in the history of Israeli popular music. As her kibbutz service ended and she was planning her return home, Katz encountered songwriter/singer Shmulik Kraus. The two had a much-publicized affair and later married. Kraus and Katz, along with Arik Einstein, founded the musical trio, High Windows, which enjoyed great success in Israel and abroad. When the group broke up in the seventies, Kraus entered a difficult period of his life, moving between detention centers and mental hospitals. Josie was left to raise their two sons, Ben (now 31) and Shem (now 30). These days Josie is trying to pick-up the pieces of her musical career, as well as to come to terms with the ups and downs of her personal life. "All is Well by Me" tells her riveting story.

The Biggest Movies and TV Coming in September

See which big screen releases you can watch from the comfort of your couch.

Theatrical Releases Coming to Streaming

See who dazzled on the red carpet and took home gold at the 78th Primetime Creative Emmy Awards.

Primetime Creative Arts Emmys: Photos We Love

Arik Einstein, Josie Katz, and Shmulik Kraus in All Is Well by Me (2005)

All Is Well by Me

Photos3

Top Cast10

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed