Hanan Savyon and Guy Amir, the duo behind the Netflix first original Hebrew-language series Bros, the TV series Asfur and the megahit Israeli movies Maktub and Forgiveness, are back with their new comedy Jinxed: Benny and Reuven, brothers in law and TV technicians are anything but glamorous. Yet, their dreams and ambitions are sky-high, hoping for that one lucky break that could change everything. However, they soon discover that luck is not on their side—in fact, it might just be their worst enemy.
Jinxed (Mazal Chatulah)
Written and directed by: Hanan Savyon & Guy Amir
(Israel 2024, 104 mins, Hebrew with English subtitles)
Cast: Hanan Savyon, Guy Amir, Rotem Abohav, Mali Levy, Tsachi Halevy, Lior Ashkenazi, Yosi Marshak, Levana Finkelshtein, Ori Hochman, Yaniv Kalderon, Yoav Barlev, Ori Orian, Amiram Tuvim, Itsik Nakash & Gal Barzilay
Synopsis:
"Jinxed" is a darkly comedic tale of two well-meaning but bumbling friends who find themselves entangled in a web of crime, deceit, and bad luck. It's a wild ride filled with twists, turns, and a relentless string of misfortunes that will keep you on the edge of your seat, laughing and cringing in equal measure.
One fateful day, Benny and Reuven are sent on what should be a routine job: fixing a TV in the luxurious home of Kobi Aflalo (not the famous singer), located in the picturesque city of Haifa. Upon arrival, they find the apartment door mysteriously wide open. Naively believing in their innocence, they enter and begin their work, casually making themselves at home. But their world is turned upside down when they stumble upon Kobi Aflalo's lifeless body in the bathroom.
Panic sets in as the pair tries to cover their tracks, but their clumsy attempts only dig them deeper into trouble. From this moment on, their lives spiral into a chaotic loop of bad luck. A black cat crosses their path, a young boy catches a glimpse of them leaving the apartment, and a shocking phone call sends them into a frenzy. Their misfortune seems unending, and in desperation, they even travel to Netivot (a distant city) to buy charaime (a traditional Moroccan dish) in a desperate bid to create an alibi.
Unbeknownst to them, the murder scene they've stumbled into belongs to a notorious criminal tied to the mafia. Benny and Reuven, through a series of blunders, become the prime suspects in the murder investigation. Reuven, a grown man still living with his doting mother Nechama, suddenly finds himself reunited with his first love, Netta—a policewoman and the chief investigator of Kobi Aflalo’s murder.
Meanwhile, Benny’s marriage is on the rocks with Rika, Reuven's fiery redheaded sister, who spends more time at her yoga studio than at home. Their relationship takes an even darker turn when Benny discovers that Rika was secretly involved with Kobi Aflalo.
As the situation unravels, Benny and Reuven find themselves in a dangerous mess of their own making. They become unwilling triple agents, working simultaneously for the mafia, the police, and themselves in a desperate attempt to survive. Reuven is coerced into dating Netta as an undercover agent for the mafia, while Benny is forced to lie about his wife’s involvement and hide her in a monastery.
In a last-ditch effort to save themselves and their families, Benny and Reuven decide to play all sides against each other. With the help of the police, they manage to incriminate the head of the crime family using a listening device, leading to a chaotic climax.
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