Actors: Asher Tzarfati, Shmuel Wolf, Lilli Avidan, Tsilla Karny
Directors: Amos Sefer
Number of discs: 3
Rated: R (Restricted)
Studio: Grindhouse Releasing
Release Date: September 10, 2013
Run Time: 93 minutes
Film: 3 out of 5 stars
Extras: 4 out of 5 stars
“What the fuck?” Those are the words that I said aloud about receiving this Blu-ray release. I have not had the privilege of seeing “An American Hippie In Israel” prior to recently. It was originally filmed in 1972 and is so unbelievably bad that is actually is very entertaining. I mean right from the box it is absolutely impossible to say no to the following – “machine-gun wielding mimes, robots, bloodthirsty sharks, free-loving debauchery and poignant anti-war monologues”. After reading that, it is one of those moments where you just have to drop everything and just watch it immediately. This film is actually become quite the midnight sensation and cult classic over the year. This long lost psychedelic classic will probably only appeal to its fans with little crossover but it is definitely a crazy trip.
Thanks to Grindhouse Releasing who is giving us this crazy fucked up film, which is being released for the very first time on home-video. The film is being released as a deluxe edition 3-disc Blu-ray/DVD combo, which is actually limited to 2000 copies that are going to be individually numbered. I expect this to be out of print quickly and become a very sought upon Blu-ray. Also included is a bonus DVD of “The Hitchhiker”, the Uncensored Director’s Cut. The film does scream 1970’s porn when watching it but Grindhouse gave it a really sharp high-definition digital restoration from the the original U.S. theatrical version print. So it still look the part but has a nice new paint job. In terms of audio there is a bonus Bonus 5.1 audio track dubbed “The Beverly Cinema Experience”, definitely delivers a good time.
The special features are ridiculously jam-packed. There are six controversial scenes deleted From the original release, just when you though it couldn’t get worse. There are in-depth interviews With the film stars Asher Tzarfati And Shmuel Wolf, the Production Manager Moshe Berman and Singer/Co-Star Susan Devore. There is also a featurette on the star in “Asher Tzarfati – An Israeli Actor In Israel”. There is a “Channel 10 Tel Avi News Segment” and “A Cult Is Born” featurette on the film’s revival In Tel Aviv. There are the original 16mm Screen Tests and also “Be Careful Children”, which is Amos Sefer 16mm short film. Lastly there is Liner Notes By Acclaimed Horror Novelist John Skipp, Still Galleries, Trailer, Filmographies and Optional Hebrew Sub-Titles, as well as Grindhouse Releasing Prevues Of Coming Attractions.
