DANCES WITH FILMS NEW YORK 2026 REVIEW! It often takes seeing things in another country to understand the types of crises that exist in society as a whole, including our own. The documentary Holy Ghetto, the debut film of iLan Azoulai, does just that. In a firsthand account of life in Tel Aviv’s underbelly, Israel’s red-light district, the film follows Olga, Dave, Yana, and Ohad as they candidly expose their lives and thoughts through their memories, dreams, hopes, and fears, often hard to bear.
Scenes of women being punched, seedy sex-trafficking operations, and the utter destitution and drug-addicted lives of men and women on the streets or in flophouses are eye-opening and a sad atrocity. However, Dave, an American in Israel, saw that many of the women working as prostitutes needed a place to sleep and eat. He founded The Door of Hope shelter to change their lives and lift them out of their desperate condition, with the hope of connecting with these women’s inner selves and bringing them back to a better life and mind. Only the time, effort, money, and chains of addiction and mental illness are very tough to navigate and endure.
Holy Ghetto is a story over ten years in the making, following Dave and his dedication to his shelter and its survival, which is commendable yet ultimately heartbreaking. It is interspersed with stories of Olga, abducted by sex traffickers at 17 and enduring further abuse; Yana, a recovering addict and struggling mother of five; and Ohad, a former trafficker. Each is portrayed in their hardship, with little sugarcoating and often hard to take, revealing their capacity to endure and transform in the most difficult circumstances, with little to no help except for Dave.
“…the film follows Olga, Dave, Yana, and Ohad as they candidly expose their lives and thoughts through their memories, dreams, hopes, and fears…”
One of Holy Ghetto’s notable aspects is how individual traumatic stories are supported through sand art drawings, easing the harsh emotional depictions that cause one’s societal tumble. Yet Dave’s understanding and knowledge of love, especially the many differences that cause one to become a victim, is profound. Unfortunately, this section of society remains broken, and those who manage to come out the other side are few.
Kudos to Holy Ghetto’s iLan Azoulai for his fearless approach, gathering explicit footage and simple yet powerful interviews that provide insight into what people don’t want to know or choose to ignore. Although a rough reality, Holy Ghetto is solid and provides much to think about.
Revealing footage and a commitment to following through on all stories culminate in an ending that is not what one might expect, but it’s also acceptable given the circumstances of the people, place, and scenarios depicted. Holy Ghetto offers an interesting view of how men and women treat each other in this culture. It’s not equal in any way, and the force and control by men seem very prominent. In our world culture of 2026, this makes one wonder what it might mean, as war, turmoil, protest, and greed continue to thrive to a high degree. How and where will women exist? Spirituality is Holy Ghetto’s most basic message.
Holy Ghetto screened at the Dances with Films New York.
"…Although a rough reality, Holy Ghetto is solid and provides much to think about. "
