Shoshana Damari

 Most people  who know anything about Israeli culture would agree that Shoshana Damari was one of the greatest Israeli singers of all time.  Her memorable songs are easily recognizable and her story of great popularity is envied by everyone in the Israeli music business. Her exotic and exuberant style and her incredible power and charisma on stage made her an international star, bringing a bit of Israel around the world.

A new, superb documentary, Queen Shoshana, directed by Kobi Farag and Morris Ben Mayor, uses wonderful old footage of media interviews, performances and concert tours, to introduce us to the wonderful story of the life of Shoshana Damari (1923-2006). She came to Palestine from Yemen in 1925 with her parents and siblings (she was the youngest of five children), and the family lived in Rishon Letzion, south of Tel Aviv.  In 1940, she married at the age of 16, to Shlomo Bosmi, who helped get her career launched.  Even before the establishment of the State of Israel, she went on tour to Cyprus to sing for the refugees who were being held there in DP camps after World War II, awaiting permission to immigrate to Israel. 

Her first big hit was the song Kalaniot, music by Moshe Wilensky, which is one of the most well-known songs in popular Israeli culture to this day.  People in Israel love going out to nature in February and March, singing the song, looking for the large swaths of wild red anemones (for which the song is written).  This was a remarkable collaboration – between a Yemenite singer and a Polish music writer – which brought people around the world to note the successful multiculturalism of Israeli society.  Check out this youtube video clip in memory of Shoshana Damari, featuring the song Kalaniot.

Just at the time that she was rising to stardom, her daughter, Nava, was born.  Shortly thereafter, in the 1950s, when Damari spent so much time traveling and working on developing her career, a controversy arose over the fact that she seemed to be choosing career over family life, something no one would have criticized a man for doing, and certainly would not question a woman about today.  

The film provides a very intimate look at the life and achievements of a remarkable woman.  There is fabulous footage of so many performances – at Carnegie Hall, singing for the troops during the Yom Kippur War – and so many Israeli radio and TV interviews.  In 1987, she was awarded the Israel Prize for her contribution to Hebrew song.  The film also offers a glimpse at relationships in her personal life – with her husband and daughter -- and collaborations in her professional life – with Moshe Wilensky, Matti Caspi and Idan Raichel.

Queen Shoshana (114 minutes, documentary) was produced with funding from many Israeli film funds, including the Film and Media Collaborative of three funds – Gesher Multicultural Film Fund, Avi Chai, and Maimonides.  I am proud to say that I sit on the decision-making committee of this body.