Sweet Mud Post - Yael Kaplan

Yael KaplanSweet Mud Blog - November 9, 2009

During today’s class, we plunged further into kibbutz life from the 1970’s with the movie Sweet Mud. What makes this movie interesting is how it does not depict a normal, familiar picture of what kibbutz life may have been like. This movie shows a very different vision of kibbutz life with unusual, and even bestial residents, whose priorities are very out of place.

Dvir, a young boy living on the kibbutz with his mother and older brother, is the protagonist of the film. In this part of the movie, Maya, a new girl from France, joins Dvir’s class. When the teacher asks the students whose parents would like to host Maya, everyone raises their hands. The teacher does not choose Dvir, and when he asks why he was not chosen, a boy remarks, “Because you don’t have a father”. This leads to fight between the two boys after class. After school, we meet Dvir’s mother Miri, and brother Eyal. We get a sense that Miri does not always know what is going on and that she is not 100% mentally stable when she walks out of her room in only her underwear to welcome new volunteers to the kibbutz. A few scenes later, Dvir and his mother are having a picnic by themselves and we are shown the relationship between the two. Dvir is shown comforting his mother when normally the mother should be comforting the son. In class, we discussed how Dvir has missed out on his childhood because he must take care of his mother. He is forced to grow up much faster than an average boy his age and has lost his childhood innocence along with it. I found it unusual to see Dvir taking care of his mother much more than his older brother is. In my mind, the older son should be responsible for the well being of the mother, it is not fair to give Dvir that kind of responsibility.

During a weekly meeting addressing issues and concerns about the kibbutz, Miri asks the members of the kibbutz if her boyfriend Stephan, a Judo Champion from Switzerland, could stay at the kibbutz for a few weeks. The kibbutz votes in favour of Miri before bringing up the topic of fixing their ambulance which has an oil leak. This is one of the many priority problems found on this kibbutz. When we are finally introduced to Miri’s boyfriend, Stephan, we meet an old man over the age of 60. This was a shock to the members of the kibbutz, including Dvir and Eyal, as well as the audience. However, the relationship between Stephan and Miri proves to be genuine and full of love. Dvir quickly warms up to Stephan as does the audience. In class, we discussed how even though Stephan is the same age as Miri’s father, their relationship is one of the only normal things on the kibbutz. They fill each others needs and Stephan is willing to give up everything for Miri, and offer to come live on the kibbutz with her and her family. When Stephan sees Avraham, a member of the kibbutz, about to hit Dvir, he grabs the Avraham’s arm and breaks it. Stephan is then forced to leave the kibbutz immediately, having to part from Miri and Dvir. It is outrageous that Stephan was banished for protecting Dvir. I find it interesting how Avraham, who has most likely known Dvir since he was born, would attempt to strike the boy and how Stephan, who has only known Dvir for a couple weeks, would risk his well being to protect him. When Stephan has to board the bus to leave the kibbutz, Dvir holds onto him and pleads for him to stay.

Once Stephan leaves, Miri becomes depressed and begins drinking. Dvir’s older brother has also left the kibbutz to join the army, which leaves Dvir with even more responsibility to take care of his mother. One night, Dvir and Maya go to the kitchen freezer to steel popsicles. Whilst in the freezer, Dvir trips over his dog. After telling his mother about finding his dog dead in the freezer and also telling her “she not a not a mother, she is a wreck!”, Miri goes after Avraham who has constantly been threatening to hurt Dvir’s dog. Miri corners Avraham in the barn with a pitchfork when the head of the kibbutz stops her and she is then sent to the hospital. When she returns, she tells Dvir she is completely healed.

In the last few scenes, Dvir asks his grandfather what happened to his father. His grandfather replies with “it was her fault”, referring to Miri. This is the most information Dvir has received about his father. Earlier in the film, Dvir asks his brother what happened to their father and the only response he gets is “it was an accident.” I’m very eager to watch the end of the film and find out what happened to Dvir’s father.