There may be no more hilariously funny or original film this year than this Festival début from the Israeli team of Sharon Maymon and Erez Tadmor. Deftly composed of many humorous scenes and amusing subplots, A Matter of Size goes against the grain of recent Israeli cinema, skirting Middle-East politics and other ‘big' issues, as it chronicles the lives of four overweight friends from Ramla. Herzl, a shy salad bar chef, and his companions are like big fish out of water. Seriously overweight, they have been gamely diving into a sea of perpetual diet groups and fitness regimens. Just as they seem defeated, things starts to change. Herzl accidentally discovers the one place where girth is a virtue, and where large people are honoured and appreciated: the world of Israeli sumo wrestling. This is an endearing, poignant comic tale and a tonic for these times. With echoes of The Full Monty, A Matter of Size traces these flawed men – and the women who put up with and feed them – on their tender and funny path from body shame to body celebration, from loneliness to love. A declaration of personal pride and feeling good about oneself, this is a touching and life-affirming film.