I came to “Bloody Murray” completely by accident. The phrase “Israeli romantic comedy,” which works much like “Limor and Liad in my wedding,” was daunting. Israeli artists are afraid to engage in romantic comedies: we are a more cynical and complex audience than the American audience. And even then, how will they end the series? Will the main protagonist chase after someone at the Ben Gurion Airport? Will he be detained for a security check for an hour and a half while his beloved is comforted by an aroma of egg salad sandwich? “,” Then She Came “), which may have taken their engagement one step further than borax films, but on the other hand, it’s only one step away from borax films.
Still, “Bloody Murray.” At first glance it is kitschy and shallow, perhaps even at second glance, but it has charm, precisely in the small details – that differentiate it from the typical American romantic comedies we were educated on, that flatten female characters and create unrealistic expectations about what life should look like even when seemingly aware and advanced. Maybe (just maybe) “Bloody Murray” is a symbol of the beginning of a new wave of series that understand that although Israelis are more cynical than Americans, we also deserve romantic comedies that reflect our culture. Americans can even learn a thing or two from “Bloody Murray.” Maybe even five things:
1. “Anti-heroine” who really evokes anti
Romantic comedies must be anti-hero (because this villain is too much for the genre), one whose flaws will make him someone to identify with and eventually even like. It’s just that in the American Brom-Com the shortcomings of the main character are such that they are equivalent to saying “perfectionism” in a job interview, that is, non-defective shortcomings. Man, so the protagonist is a bit calamitous, flying or “does not know what she’s worth”, flat features that are supposed to charm. In “Bloody Murray” on the other hand, we get Murray (Naomi Lvov), a film lecturer in her 30s. She is messy, complicated, sarcastic, manipulative, dependent and has no drop of morals. The average viewer apparently wanted to throw something at her at least five times while watching. Autumn Idisis, the creator of the series, even expressed in interviews the fear she had in the creative process that the audience would not like her. But isn’t that all the beauty?
Annoying, what fun. Naomi Lvov (screenshot from “Bloody Murray”)
2. Falling in love with the unexpected guy. Very unexpected
This is also a well-known romantic comedy trick, to fall in love with the “wrong” guy. Maybe he’s a nerd, maybe he’s her best friend and maybe he’s the guy from the rival team in the singing competition. But in “Bloody Murray” not one but the two main characters, Dana (Rotem Sela) and Murray, fall in love with the “wrong” guy, he is 20 years older than them, religious and unattractive. It almost seems distorted the first time one realizes there is a sexual interaction between him and Dana. It is a provocative and even controversial decision, but it certainly evokes something in the viewer – whether disgust, disgust, confusion or compassion. Good art is supposed to make us feel.
Bloody Murray Photo: Courtesy of yes
3. Reliable female characters (because they were written by a woman)
While it sounds clear that female characters in films that deal with a sensitive subject like intimacy and love, will be written by a woman – only history proves otherwise. Most of the iconic romantic comedies (not written by Nora Efron) were written by men: “Beautiful Woman,” “Notting Hill,” “Almost Famous,” “My Boyfriend’s Wedding” have forever shaped our perception of how women are supposed to look and behave . In “Bloody Murray” Idisis is not afraid to write female characters as they really are. Confused, messy, brave, strong and weak, all together. Anyone who writes about themselves knows that things are more complex than they seem from the side.
girls? Not about girls. Naomi Lvov and Rotem Sela (screenshot from “Bloody Mori”)
>> Bloody Murray: Our sisters in “The” also wrote about it
4. Dealing with issues that alienate men
Directly following the previous section: The series deals with real issues that concern women, especially women who are in late bachelorhood. It may not be sexy nor does it evoke the light-hearted giggle we would expect from a romantic comedy, but it’s real, painful and also amusing. “Bloody Murray” has an abortion, ovarian loss (Atias’ wife) and egg freezing – perhaps these are exactly the issues that romantic comedies are supposed to produce skepticism about, but here it makes them more accessible. When Murray vomits in the aquarium of her ex-douche after she has an abortion, there is something comforting about it.
Discourse on abortion, with precise timing. Rotem Sela (screenshot from “Bloody Mori”)
5. True friendship of women
Think about how friendship between women is presented in American romantic comedies: you will immediately get flashbacks of hugs and jumps, using words like “Girlfriend” and “Siss”, Chasers before going out to the club, crying and ice cream and other clichés. Is this what your friendships with your best friends look like? probably not. But in “Bloody Murray” the friendship between the two women is the main thing. They are angry at each other, coming down on each other and cursing each other, but there is also a common destiny between them. They love each other and never stop caring for each other. They are a family. These are the companies we would like to see on screen. This is the company we would like to have.
Do they seem to be enjoying themselves? “Bloody Murray” | Photo: Courtesy of yes