Horst in Translation ([email protected])
"Sababa" or "Private Manoeuvres" is a co-production between West Germany and Israel from 1983, so this film will have its 35th anniversary already next year. According to IMDb, the primary language here is German, but looking at the cast list and my perception that many actors got dubbed in the version I watched I am not sure about that at all. Anyway, this film is not seen as an official entry to the Golden Globe nominated Lemon Popsicle film series (basically an older Israeli equivalent to the American Pie films), but it is still really close to Sapiches, the 4th entry, so you could call this one here somewhat Lemon Popsicle 4.5 I guess. Zachi Noy (the chubby one, who recently appeared in German Celebrity Big Brother) is on board here and he has always been somewhat my favorite from the trio. But he was surprisingly ineffective here I must admit. The best for me easily and probably the only aspect here was Joseph Shiloach channeling his inner de Funès at times. Other than that, it's all the same like in the other movies, many dirty sex-oriented jokes and also some nudity here and there, mostly through voluptuous supporting actress Sibylle Rauch, one of very few German actors in here and normally you rather find her in much more hardcore stuff really. This is a (not too funny) comedy that is soft-core at best. Or at worst, depending on your perspective. So yeah if you really like the franchise and humor in the other films and especially in Sapiches or other military boot camp comedies, you can check this one out. Just don't expect too much. I cannot say this was a good watch and that's why I give it a thumbs-down. Not recommended.
