Top 10 things to do

The film The Foreigner, starring Jackie Chan and Pierce Brosnan, is a timely action thriller from the director of Casino Royale. A humble businessman with a buried past seeks justice when his daughter is killed in an act of terrorism. A cat-and-mouse conflict ensues with a government official, whose past may hold clues to the killers’ identities.

There’s a new doctor in town in The Heart Guy, the latest TV hit from Australia. High-flying, arrogant Sydney heart surgeon Dr. Hugh Knight (Rodger Corser) lives outside the rules – until an incident involving drugs and alcohol brings his privileged world crashing down. Downgraded to general practice, he retreats to his rural hometown to wipe the slate clean.

Based on the research of David Kroyanker, foremost chronicler of Jerusalem architecture, the “Jerusalem in Detail” exhibition focuses on often overlooked but highly symbolic design motifs hidden in the capital’s streets and buildings. It enables visitors to hone their observational skills and discover the functional and decorative details that say so much about the many nations, cultures and ways of life that have left their mark over the centuries.

The second annual Finita la Commedia? festival of Italian comedy returns to cinematheques throughout the country. Highlights include the restored films of Dino Risi, acclaimed master of Italian comedy. The festival will also pay tribute to the films of Paolo Villaggio, who recently passed away, the creator of accountant Ugo Fantozzi, one of the most famous Italian characters of the 1970s and ‘80s.

5. PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC 

More than a decade before his tours with music legends like Bruce Springsteen, Cory Henry was making a name for himself in Harlem. The Brooklynborn jazz organist and pianist debuted at the legendary Apollo Theater at age six and from there, armed with an electric organ, he began a jazz career alongside other notable performers. Catch Henry & the Funk Apostles as they kick off their European Funk Crusade Tour at Tel Aviv’s Barby Club.

Dance Company Theaterhaus Stuttgart, founded by Canadian expat Eric Gauthier, will perform Nijinsky, Marco Goecke’s full-length ballet about the beautiful and tragic life of early 20th-century Russian dance legend Vaslav Nijinsky. Nijinsky was one of the most extraordinary artists of the last century and made dance history with roles like the clown in Igor Stravinsky’s Petruschka and the Golden Slave in Scheherazade.

The In D Negev Festival returns against the spectacular backdrop of the Negev border at Mitzpe Gvulot, with diverse performances of some of the best local indie artists. The festival will host more than 70 performances, such as Giraffot, Ester Rada (pictured), Lucille Crew and Betty Bears. The festival area includes a camping space with food and drink stalls.

Thursday through next Saturday. For more info: https://2017.indnegev.website 

8. COME ON IN 

The annual Open House event in Jerusalem invites the public to explore the city in a series of unconventional tours. During one weekend, Open House opens up Jerusalem’s private spaces for the public to view, discover and debate. Distinctive synagogues, designer lofts, urban villas, gardens and even construction sites are included. A variety of contributors such as architects, developers and property owners take part.

The Tel Aviv Museum of Art commemorates the centennial of the 1917 Russian Revolution with the exhibition “Total Red: Photography,” featuring works by early 20th-century Soviet photographers. It follows the development of Soviet photography against the background of the revolution and further events, illustrating the power of photography to document and mold reality.

Legendary French singer, composer, actor and poet Charles Aznavour returns to Israel to perform at Tel Aviv’s Menorah Mivtahim Arena on October 28. With songs such as “La Boheme,” “La Mama,” “She,” “Je m’voyais déjà,” “Hier encore” and “Comme ils disent,” 93-year-old Aznavour has had a tremendous influence on French musical culture. The “Grand Charles” is in the midst of a one-year world tour that takes him from the US to Moscow, via Hong Kong, Sydney, Beirut, Mexico City and Israel.