Operation Maya

Operation Maya poster

The film opens with a monologue by a year five pupil who goes to primary school in the city of Rishon LeZion, outside Tel Aviv. He addresses the camera and a recent incident that happened in class, which helped his fellow pupils and himself learn how to better treat “new kids and new people.” Thus begins the story of Maya Kajinowski, who arrives at the school as part of the tidal wave of mass Jewish migration to Israel, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early ‘90s. Maya struggles to integrate and assimilate, as the native children continue to tease her, relentlessly, for her accent and looks, and flat out refuse to sit next to her. When the bullying and humiliation reach their nastiest peak, after which the children’s treatment of Maya finally starts to change, Maya too turns a corner and goes from the new immigrant and perennial outsider to a student, just like everyone else.

Director: Shaul Shalhin
Genre: Drama
Runtime: 55 min

Cast

Language: עִבְרִית
Original Language: he

Themes

Coming of Age and Self-Discovery

Keywords

adolescence, immigrants

Similar Movies

More Films by Director: Shaul Shalhin
More Films in Genre: Drama

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Operation Maya about?
The film opens with a monologue by a year five pupil who goes to primary school in the city of Rishon LeZion, outside Tel Aviv. He addresses the camera and a recent incident that happened in class, which helped his fellow pupils and himself learn how to better treat “new kids and new people.” Thus begins the story of Maya Kajinowski, who arrives at the school as part of the tidal wave of mass Jewish migration to Israel, following the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early ‘90s. Maya struggles to integrate and assimilate, as the native children continue to tease her, relentlessly, for her accent and looks, and flat out refuse to sit next to her. When the bullying and humiliation reach their nastiest peak, after which the children’s treatment of Maya finally starts to change, Maya too turns a corner and goes from the new immigrant and perennial outsider to a student, just like everyone else.
Who directed Operation Maya?
Operation Maya was directed by Shaul Shalhin.
Who stars in Operation Maya?
Operation Maya stars Sophie Resnik, Irit Dotan, Reuven Goldwasser.
How long is Operation Maya?
Operation Maya has a runtime of 55m (55 minutes).
What genre is Operation Maya?
Operation Maya is a Drama film.
What are the themes of Operation Maya?
The themes of Operation Maya include: Coming of Age and Self-Discovery.