TIFF 2018 Israel Focus

TIFF 2018 Israel Focus

Five Israeli films in the Tokyo International Film Festival 2018 !

The 31st Tokyo International Film Festival on Oct.25 ～Nov.3, 2018, present “Israeli film Now 2018” to introduce five films with the complex and diverse Israel. Four films in the world focus category "Israeli Movie Now" and "Tel Aviv on Fire" in the competition category.

1. Tel Aviv On Fire (International Competition)

Director: Sameh Zoabi

Tel Aviv on fire! Burning love! A soap opera in which a Palestinian female spy falls in love with an Israeli officer is a big hit. A Palestinian AD youth who enters the production site suddenly gets an idea for a script from an Israeli inspector. The best entertainment to enjoy the complicated situation in the Middle East with comedy.

<Synopsis>

Salem is a charming 30-year-old Palestinian living in Jerusalem. He is an intern in the production of a popular soap opera called "Tel Aviv on Fire". He has to go through a troublesome Israeli checkpoint every day to go to the studio. One day, he meets the checkpoint chief Asi. To brag about his wife, an avid fan of the drama, Asi gets involved in the drama script. Asi's draft script led Salam to become an official screenwriter. Asi and the sponsor are dissatisfied with the ending of the drama, although Salam started to be successful with his the career.

<Description of work>

In the Israeli film industry, where excellent works have been prominent in recent years, Sameh Zoabi is a valuable person who can talk about the issues of Israel and Palestine with humor.

The director is aware of the risk of portraying a serious situation in a comedy, but he says, "In my movie, I try to entertain the audience and at the same time try to be as honest as possible about the situation in which the characters live. “

The soap drama in the movie is set on the eve of the Six-Day War in 1967, and in the real world, there are checkpoints by the Israeli army. The appearance of a young man who is tossed between these two realities is the core of the comedy, but Kais Nashif, who played a serious role in "Paradise Now" (05), dressed as the main character with a light taste, and the movie brings to depth.

<Screening information>

■ EX Theater Roppongi

10/26 [FRI] 18: 00- (97 minutes of this edition)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Sameh Zoabi (Director / Screenplay)

2. The Cakemaker (World Focus)

Director: Ofir Raul Graizer 

Until sadness turns into sweet tears… The man who saved her from her sorrow was a man whom her husband loved. Set in the melancholy Jerusalem, a human story of men and women who meet across nationalities, cultures, religions, and genders.

<Synopsis>

The main characters are Thomas, a German who lost his "lover" in an accident, and Anat, an Israeli who lost her "husband" and raised her son by herself. The two, who love the "same man" and have the same feeling of despair and loss, meet in Jerusalem with melancholy.

<Description of work>

An emotional drama that delicately depicts sad men and women reveals differences in religious practices through cake making, highlighting eating, living, and loving.

The film, produced by the unnamed young Israeli director Ofir Raul Graizer, was highly valued by the audience for its world premiere at the International Film Festival Karlovy Vary - KVIFF, despite being a low-budget film, and was praised by the audience for the Ecumenical Jury Award. Achieved the feat of receiving the award. Fatefully attracted to each other.

<Screening information>

■ Cinemas Roppongi Hills

10/26 [FRI] 18: 35- (109 minutes in this section)

December 1 (Sat) Road Show

Official Site http://cakemaker.espace-sarou.com/

3. Laces (World Focus)

Director: Jacob Goldwasser- 

An old father and a child with a disability live. His mother died suddenly, leaving behind a 50-year-old son with developmental disabilities. His father, who once left home, is summoned to take over his son, but he also has renal failure and dialysis is essential. A bittersweet family drama that mixes laughter and tears.

<Synopsis>

His mother died suddenly, leaving behind his son Gadi, who has a developmental disability. His father, Ruven, who once left home after a couple quarrel over Gadis upbringing, is summoned to take over his son and live with him. Gadi is hard to take care of, but Ruven is also on dialysis due to renal failure. Will the days of peace come to my father and son?

<Description of work>

A bittersweet family drama that gently looks at love, rejection, and interdependence, woven by a 60-year-old father and a 35-year-old son. Above all, the act by Nevo Kimchi who played Gadi is fascinated. It is also wonderful that the story unfolds with some hints, including the title "Lace", which makes you feel the director's ability.

<Screening information>

■ Cinemas Roppongi Hills

10/28 [Sun] 20: 40- (103 minutes in this section)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Jacob Goldwasser (Director)

■ TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills SCREEN 8

10/31 [WED] 20: 20- (103 minutes)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Jacob Goldwasser (Director)

4. Red Cow  (World Focus)

Director: Tsivia Barkai Yacov 

Friendship between girls? Affection?

After giving birth to herself and the death of her mother, Benni, a red-haired girl who lives with her strict father of a Jewish priest, escapes the oppression of her father and meets one of her women. Her cheerful, active and opposite girlfriend begins to have a longing that resembles her love ...

<Synopsis>

Since her mother died when she gave a birth to Beni, a red-haired girl, she has been living with her strict father, a Jewish priest. When Beni meets Yael, a bright and active girl who is the exact opposite of herself,  her feelings for Yael resemble her love, and the distance between the two gets closer. Eventually, when her father knew it, things changed dramatically ...

<Description of work>

This work is a story about a 17-year-old girl living in the Jewish society of West Jerusalem, but the existence of social norms symbolized by the strict father's appearance and the shape of the girl's love that sticks out of it collide. It delicately depicts the sword. It is impressive that the scene where her father is involved in the conflict over the "Temple Mount", which is a sanctuary of both Judaism and Islam, is stippled through the eyes of the girl.

The film was included in the Berlin Film Festival 2018, and has already attracted a lot of attention such as receiving the Best Debut Film Award in all categories and the Best Film Award in the Generation category.

<Screening information>

■ TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills SCREEN 8

10/27 [SAT] 20: 00- (92 minutes of this edition)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Q & A: Tsivia Barkai Yacov (Screenplay / Director), Boaz Yehonatan Yaakov (Director Director), Itai Tamir (Producer)

■ TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills SCREEN 8

10/29 [MON] 17: 00- (92 minutes in this edition)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Tsivia Barkai Yacov (Screenplay / Director), Boaz Yehonatan Yaakov (Director Taking Director)

5. Working Woman (World Focus)

Director: Michael Aviad 

A timely topic of the year "#MeToo"

Orna, who lives with her husband and three children, works in an architectural office, is annoyed by an escalate relentless sexual harassment from her employer who likes her talent.

<Synopsis>

Orna, who lives with her husband and three children, finds it difficult for her husband's restaurant to get off to a good start and works in an architectural office to help a difficult family budget. However, her employer, who loves her talent, begins to suffer relentless sexual harassment, and finally an intolerable event occurs on the night of her business trip to Paris. Orna begins her struggle against her employer, who tries to dismiss her and bury her in her darkness.

<Description of work>

At the beginning, Orna was confidently frightened, but the process of gradually gaining pride and independence in the wake of her own suffering is clearly depicted. Director Michael Aviad is a veteran from Jerusalem who studied film in San Francisco and has been active since the 1980s. A timely female movie that arrived in the year of "#MeToo".

<Screening information>

■ TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills SCREEN 8

10/29 [MON] 20: 15- (94 minutes in this edition)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Sharon Azulay (Screenplay)

■ TOHO Cinemas Roppongi Hills SCREEN 8

11/01 [THU] 17: 05- (this edition 94 minutes)

Q & A Session Route Guest (Scheduled): Sharon Azulay (Screenplay)

Link

https://2018.tiff-Jp.net/news/en/?p=49798

credit

© Samsa Film - TS Productions - Lama Films - Artémis Productions © Patricia Peribañez - Samsa Film - TS Productions - Lama Films - Artémis Productions © All rights reserved to Laila Films Ltd.2017 © Transfax Film Productions © Laila Films / Boaz Yehonatan Yacov © Lama Films