1.THE DESCENDANTS Native islander Matt King (George Clooney) lives with his family in Hawaii. Their world shatters when a tragic accident leaves his wife in a coma. Not only must Matt struggle with the stipulation in his wife’s will that she be allowed to die with dignity, but he also faces pressure from relatives to sell their family’s enormous land trust.At selected cinemas throughout the country.
MUSIC 2. ANALYZING AYA Aya Korem is considered one of the country’s most promising singer-songwriters, composing both the music and the lyrics of her songs. She continues to prove her songwriting ability with punchy songs about daily life, love and Israeli reality. Catch her as she performs her many hits, as well as songs from her latest album, Le’alef et Hasusim (Taming Horses).Tonight, 9:30, Cafe Bialik, Tel Aviv, (03) 620-0832
Music
3. MOURA’S UNIVERSE Appearing for the first time in Israel, Portuguese fado singer Ana Moura will be joined by Idan Raichel in opening the 2012 World Music concert series at the Israeli Opera. Moura, who is one of the most popular fadistas in Portugal, is gaining a global reputation due to her moving performances and stunning vocal talents. She has also collaborated with such artists as Prince and The Rolling Stones.Friday, 10 p.m., Opera House, Tel Aviv, www.israel-opera.co.il
FESTIVAL
4. THE WORLD’S A STAGE For the fifth consecutive year, the ever-new Clipa Theater presents Clipa Aduma, its cutting-edge performance art and visual theater festival that takes place over three weeks from February 2 to 22 in all three performance spaces at the Clipa Theater. Highlights include two extraordinary Butoh artists from Japan; Mestoslav, an object theater piece from Russia; and Pieces of Paradise from Brazil. The local pieces, many multimedia and multidisciplinary, include Diamedia, a TV-human love story, and Gindaor, created and performed by Born to Dance winner Arthur Astman.For more info, visit www.aduma.co.il THEATER
5. THE IMPORTANCE OF WILDE WIT The Haifa English Theater presents Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest. In this classic farce about mistaken identity, Jack (Rory Cunningham) and his freeloading friend Algernon (Jordan Mandell) pursue the hearts of Gwendolen (Theresa O’Toole Kipp) and Cecily (Mary Okonkwo). The disapproval of Gwendolen’s mother Lady Bracknell (Sylvia Lippa) adds to the drama as the men complicate matters by using imaginary alter egos in their attempt to woo the women.Tonight and Saturday, 8:30 p.m., Beit Hagefen Auditorium, 33 Hatzionut St., Haifa, www.h-e-t.org KIDS
6. SEARCHING FOR CLUES This colorful stage version of Erich Kastner’s children’s novel Emil and the Detectives takes young audiences on a fun-filled adventure together with Emil and his friends in search of the robber who stole Emil’s money on the train. The children in the audience become the actors’ accomplices as they turn to them for advice. In Hebrew.Saturday, 11 a.m., Holon Mediatheque, www.mediatheque.org.il MIXED BAG
7. IT’S BURNS NIGHT Celebrate the birthday of Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns, with the best of Scottish cuisine, music, songs and whisky at the Scots Hotel in Tiberias. The evening will be hosted by Israeli actor and comedian Guri Alfi. Following a roast beef dinner with traditional haggis, there will be performances by the Bodhran Ensemble.Tonight, Scots Hotel, 1 G’dud Barak Street, Tiberias, (04) 671-0710 or www.scotshotels.co.ilEXHIBITION 8. MIXING BUSINESS WITH PLEASURE The Jerusalem International Convention Center is playing host to Israel’s first kosher wine exhibition. Some 30 wineries will present their products at this event. This is a great opportunity for wine enthusiasts to explore the new flavors, bouquets and colors of products introduced by the big estates, as well as the boutique wineries. A highlight is Cooking in Wine workshops conducted by chef Shaul Ben-Aderet.Runs Monday and Tuesday, 3 p.m.-11 p.m., (02) 633-4950 EDUCATIONAL9. CATCHING THE EARLY BIRD The new Ramat Hanegev Birding Center is offering accommodation, bird-watching trips around the region, and other assorted ornithological activities on four weekends until the end of February. The trips take in a number of locations around the Negev, such as Sfinat Hamidbar, the Ben-Gurion Field School at Sde Boker and the region between Nitzana and Ezuz. The programs also include sunset trips through the desert, bird ringing and lectures about the species of birds that pass through the region at this time of year.For more info visit www.weekend.co.il/negev/sfinatamidbar UPCOMING FESTIVAL
10. BEST OF THE BRITS A combination of classics and cuttingedge films makes up the 12th British Film Festival. Highlights include Ralph Fiennes’s directorial debut of Shakespeare’s Coriolanus (pictured) starring himself, Gerard Butler and Vanessa Redgrave, as well as Paddy Considine’s Tyrannosaur, which won the Directing Award and Special Jury Prize at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival. This aside, the festival offers everything from documentaries and animated films to shorts from the British Isles.The BFF takes place February 4 through 12 at cinematheques in Haifa, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.