I Heard a Lonely Flute

Israel in the 1950`s needs people with initiative to help all the immigrants arriving from post- war Europe as well as from Muslim countries. Talia, an 18 year- old kibbutznik, volunteers for a year in the desert city of Beersheva. Here, for the first time, she encounters a downtrodden community whose members are nevertheless determined to make a life for themselves in their new country. Talia starts a Hebrew-language group and earns the trust of the women in the community. Most important is her relationship with 16- year- old Emilia from Greece.

Emilia, an introverted girl, has an unusual condition: at times, she bursts into tears and makes strange noises, so people make fun of her. But her outbursts do not deter Talia, who decides to bring her out of her shell. She gets Emilia to teach a few Hebrew classes; in turn, Emilia tells her about her childhood in wartime Greece and her parents’ death, and gets out of the house a little. Yet Talia ultimately fails: when Emilia has an outburst at the movies, Talia scolds her and ruins the trust between them. However, they meet again four years later, and now Emilia is happily married to Ariel (who saw beyond her condition) and is dedicated to her work—taking care of children with special needs .