are any of the original kibbutznikim normal?

Children sleeping away from parents disappeared many years ago and for all its faults kibbutz life has many many advantages. I personally experienced living on kibbutz and having my children, I can say it was the most supportive and family friendly place I could have wished for. This is a story which as the author states, does not highlight the good things and only focusses on the negative. And in answer to no.1 yes there are many "normal" people who grew up in the system of the early kibbutzim.

The ideal of kibbutz life never appealed to me , because I believe that the ideal family of father and mother and family have been set up by God, and no other system can replace that sort of love . The family circle. And I believe childrens love is expanded and enriched by knowing Grandparents and uncles and Aunties. And the love grows for ones neighbors and fellow country men , then increases to love of all people. But we start of in a single atom and become more compounded held together in love. But split the atom and you get destruction.

Shown in this movie may be more a result of his mother's mental illness that followed the suicide of the child's father.......

I was born into and raised on a Kibbutz during the years 1948 through 1970. I have made only one vow in my life. I vowed that my children will never grow up on a Kibbutz. I was 14 years old. Dubbie New York, NY

"rigid mold of kibbutz rules and regulations" "its suffocating and debilitating way of life" "uncompromising interference in every aspect of human life." Thi is how Israeli films usually portray the Orthodox community.

I felt this was an excellent movie. The positive aspects of kibbutz life aren't shown in the movie, leaving the negative aspects of kibbutz life depicted by the film unbalanced. There are abnormal kibbutznikim just as there are abnormal people growing up at home with their families. The kibbutz can't be blamed for everything that goes wrong. Actually, there are weak families that benefit from the kibbutz structure. In addition, many kibbutzim are very sensitive to the psychological needs of the members. I was haunted and touched by the acting and interaction of the mom and her son.