‘Come Closer’ (Tribeca 2024) The complexities of grief shine through stunning performances

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COME CLOSER

come closer still tribeca 2024

In Tom Nesher‘s Tribeca 2024 film COME CLOSER, following the accidental death of her brother, Eden discovers his secret girlfriend. They begin a complicated relationship that pushes them both into challenging territory.

Darya Rosenn‘s innocence shines as Maya. She is entirely mesmerizing. Lia Elalouf instills deep loss and authenticity in Eden. Her fiery spirit feels dangerous in the best way. Elalouf projects the epitome of unresolved trauma.

We should have expected an already damaged character to use sex as a coping mechanism. Eden’s self-sabotaging behavior covers deep-seated trauma from both her parent’s ugly divorce and the loss of her brother. Her volatility keeps the audience engaged, but Elalouf and Rosen’s chemistry takes your breath away.

While the story is relatively predictable, it doesn’t lessen the impact of the performances and stunning lighting choices. How we deal with grief is such a personal journey. COME CLOSER examines the idea of its unique messiness.




Written & Directed by Tom Nesher

Produced by Haim Mecklberg, Estee Yacov-Mecklberg, Domenico Procacci, Laura Paolucci, Anthony Bregman, Moshe and Leon Edery, Oren and Omer Rogovin, Omri and Karni Bezalel, Tomer Mecklberg

Executive Produced by Ivan Fiorini, Marica Stocchi, Yigal Mograbi, Schaul Scherzer

Starring Lia Elalouf, Darya Rosenn, Netta Garti, Jacob Zada Daniel, Shlomi Shaban, Ido Tako, Ofek Pesach, and Yael Shoshana Cohen


When Eden’s beloved brother suddenly dies, she takes desperate measures to fill the void. Once she discovers he had a secret girlfriend, these measures assume a passionate and dangerous twist.

RT: 107 Minutes

Language: Hebrew | Subtitles: English COME CLOSER

For more Tribeca 2024 coverage, click here!

DOC NYC 2023 review: Henya Brodeker’s ‘THE THREE OF US’ perfectly captures the complexities of advocating for a special needs child

THE THREE OF US

In a society governed by tradition, a young Orthodox couple defies norms to integrate their autistic son. As they risk everything, their journey explores the delicate balance between love, faith, and self-discovery. Through their struggle, they challenge preconceived notions, embracing parenthood and searching for their place in the world.


Filmmaker Henya Brodbeker turns the camera on her, her husband, and their young autistic son, Ari. Through years of filming, we witness the evolution of relationships in her Orthodox community, her marriage, and with herself. This is one family’s story about belonging. 

THE THREE OF US is one of the most authentic depictions of what it feels like to parent an autistic child. Your unconditional love exists simultaneously with anger, despair, hope, and fear. Henya pulls no punches. Her unfiltered conversations with her husband hit hard. Their raw emotions and vulnerability allow us to sit in their shoes from the beginning. The insulting treatment Henya and Arale receive from their ultra-Orthodox community is infuriating. Arale and Henya invite us to their exhaustive fight for Ari’s integration into a neurotypical classroom setting. The often dismissive responses from community school administrations are outrageous. 

Anyone who follows my career as a film journalist knows I’m a Mom of a young autistic son. I talk about his diagnosis and navigating the complexities of existing in a primarily neurotypical environment. We are lucky in the grand scheme of ASD possibilities. Our son’s cognitive abilities are off the charts. He is loving, funny, friendly, and would not hurt a fly. Dealing with public meltdowns, particularly if those around you do not know or understand, can be a crushing, demoralizing, tear-filled experience. Nothing is easy. It’s undeniably isolating. It’s the outside world we fear most. THE THREE OF US is irrefutable proof of how equal opportunity changes the lives of families. 

The reality exposed in the film may take some viewers off guard. Arale and Henya’s bravery deserves applause and respect. To turn a camera on your lived-in chaos? Wow. I only write about it. THE THREE OF US triumphs in its unfettered honesty and in challenging any preconceived notions of raising a child on the spectrum. Disability representation in film is vital. As an advocate for my child, I thank Henya for making this film. I hope it changes some hearts and minds.


International Premiere of
‘The Three of Us’ at DOC NYC

Thursday, November 9 at 6:45 pm
Village East by Angelika
Director Henya Brodbeker in-person for premiere!
Plus online dates: November 10-26
https://www.docnyc.net/film/the-three-of-us/


 

About the Filmmakers

Henya Brodbeker, Director & Cinematographer
Israeli writer-director and pioneering filmmaker from the ultra-Orthodox community. Her first short film OUR SON (2022) screened at the Cinequest film festival, won the best film award at the Jerusalem Jewish Film Festival, and participate in other festivals around the world. Her documentary THE THREE OF US (2023) won the Diamond Award for Best Documentary, Best Director & Best Editing at the Jerusalem Film Festival. The film will be broadcasted by IPBC in 2023. She is currently working on BODILY ENCOUNTERS, a feature film in development with the support of the Israel Film Fund.

Avigail Sperber Producer
Avigail Sperber is a documentary director, producer, and cinematographer originally from Jerusalem. After graduating from Ma’aleh Film School, Avigail has gone on to create award-winning films that have screened at prestigious festivals around the world. Her 2010 film THE HANGMAN received Special Mention at IDFA and went on to screen at Full Frame, Visions du Reel, and more. PROBATION TIME (2014) won the Best Israeli Film Award at Docaviv and screened afterwards at True/False and Krakow Film Festival, among others. In recent years, through her production company Pardes Productions, she has produced and shot several documentary films and series, including THE THREE OF US (Jerusalem FF 2023), Wedding Night (Docaviv 2023), IT’S A WRAP (Haifa FF 2022), COVERED UP (Docaviv 2018), and more.


 

Tribeca 2023 review: ‘THE FUTURE’ is a sharp commentary on womanhood and our reliance on technology.

THE FUTURE

At 42, Dr. Bloch (Reymonde Amsellem), a profiler, wants a child. A future. Her only way is to find a surrogate mother. At the same time, her groundbreaking algorithm designed to identify individuals planning to carry out terror attacks fails and a young Palestinian woman (Samar Qupty) assassinates the Israeli minister of Space and Tourism. In order to ‘fix the bugs’ in her algorithm, Nurit faces the assassin in person. The sessions between these two brilliant women raise questions about their past, while the sessions between Bloch and the potential surrogate (Dar Zuzovsky) challenge Bloch’s decision about her future.


An in-your-face opening sequence begins an unexpected plot in Noam Kaplan‘s Tribeca 2023 film THE FUTURE. A stinging and smart near-future Minority Report-like plot, the title has a double meaning. At 42, Nurit is a world-renowned profiler amid personal and professional deadlines. Charged with picking the brain of a resistance assassin named Yafa, she is also approaching the final days to choose a surrogate. Is motherhood part of her future?

Dar Zuzovsky plays potential surrogate Maor with a sunshiny disposition that is completely jarring. Something is off, but you can’t quite put your finger on it. Samar Qupty is Yafa. She is whipsmart with an acerbic wit and defensive edge. Her softening mirrors Nurit in real-time. It is a memorable turn. Reymonde Amsellem plays Nurit with a measured tone. She is undeniably brilliant. The dynamic between Nurit and Yafa is fascinating. They are combative, challenging, and yet connect in ways you don’t expect. Their relationship is essential to understanding Nurit’s journey.

Time is a recurring theme; the days counting down to the moon landing, minutes in traffic, and days until surrogacy implantation. Mixed into the ominous score is a repeated sound of a heartbeat. The numerous double meanings in this film are clever. They are unmissable. Effi Cohen Verte’s editing is a wonder. This femme-centric film focuses entirely on women. You never see Nurit’s husband. You only hear his voice. The final scene hits you like a ton of bricks. It is, simply put, genius.


 

WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY Noam Kaplan
STARRING Dar Zuzovsky, Samar Qupty, Reymonde Amsellem
PRODUCED BY Yoav Roeh, Arit Zamir
CINEMATOGRAPHY BY Shark de Mayo
EDITED BY Effi Cohen Vertes
MUSIC BY David Klemes


In Person

Sat June 10 – 8:45 PM
RUSH

 

Sun June 11 – 6:30 PM

 

Sat June 17 – 8:15 PM

Review: Israel’s Official Submission to the 94th Academy Awards, ‘LET IT BE MORNING’ is a slick satirical dramedy with spectacular performances.

LET IT BE MORNING

Based on the Sayed Kashua novel, Eran Kolirin‘s sharp political satire LET IT BE MORNING hits theaters this Friday. Premiering at Canne in 2022, we find Sami returning to his childhood village to attend his younger brother’s wedding, only to find Israeli soldiers lock down the town without explanation.

On the surface, the film is an intimate character study of the growing tensions in a family and community in close quarters and the disruption of everyday life. Slyly mirroring the Israel-Palestine tensions in a darkly comedic way, LET IT BE MORNING tackles the status quo, the want for power, and the need for change in a superbly brilliant way.

Shai Goldman‘s cinematography captures both the beautiful landscape and the claustrophobic living conditions, smartly accentuated by natural light, soft candlelight, and lone street lamps. Music tracks like SIA‘s “Chandelier” break the tension in seemingly mundane moments. The script gets funnier and deeper under such dark circumstances as everyone approaches their physical and emotional breaking points.

Performances are undeniably fantastic. Most notably, Juna Sulieman as Mira, Ehab Salami as the ever-optimistic Abed, and Alex Bakri as an often indifferent Sami. They wade through politics, flailing relationships, and the facades we curate for survival. LET IT BE MORNING utilizes biting humor, metaphor, and reluctant honesty to tackle happiness and hope.


LET IT BE MORNING opens in theaters on February 3rd in New York City (QUAD Cinema) and LA (Laemmle Royal)

The film will then expand into select major cities on February 10th and nationwide on February 17th.


The film premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festivalthen went on to acclaim at other festivals around the world. It also won in nine of the eleven categories in which it was nominated at the Ophir Awards (Israel’s Academy Awards), including Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor, and Best Actress.

 
QUAD Cinema’s Retrospective Series Honoring Filmmaker Eran Kolirin
Quad Cinema in New York will also be presenting a four-day retrospective (Jan 30th-Feb 2nd) featuring select films from Eran Kolirin’s filmography, celebrating the director’s work leading up to the theatrical release of Let It Be Morning. Co-sponsored by the Consulate General of Israel in NY, the retrospective series will include the 2007 global phenomenon (and Kolirin’s feature directorial debut) The Band’s Visit on 35mm as well as the 2011 Venice-selected, quirky comedy The Exchange and soldier-returns-home drama Beyond the Mountains and Hills, which competed in the Un Certain Regard at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival. Filmmaker Eran Kolirin will be present for Q&A discussions after select screenings throughout the retrospective and during the opening weekend of “Let It Be Morning” at the QUAD Cinema. 

 

About filmmaker Eran Kolirin:

Born in Tel Aviv in 1973, writer/director Eran Kolirin’s feature film debut THE BAND’S VISIT (2007) thrust him into the international spotlight, winning critical acclaim and over 50 prestigious awards from around the globe, including eight Israeli Academy awards, two awards and special mentions at the Cannes Film Festival and two European Film Awards. His second film THE EXCHANGE (2010) competed at the 68th Venice International Film Festival in 2011. In 2016, his third film BEYOND THE MOUNTAINS AND HILLS premiered in the Un Certain Regard section of the Cannes Film Festival. LET IT BE MORNING is his fourth feature film as writer/director.


 

Netflix review: Avi Nesher’s sweeping Israeli war drama based on true events, ‘Image of Victory,’ releases tomorrow.

IMAGE OF VICTORY

Synopsis:

 Inspired by true events. 1948: Hassanin, an Egyptian filmmaker, is tasked with documenting a raid on the isolated kibbutz Nitzanim. When the kibbutz learns of the impending army raid, Mira, a young but valiant mother, is forced to reckon with the true cost of war and make an impossible choice.


The two diverging stories give us perspectives on each end of the spectrum of war. One glamorized for the media. The other portrays the suffering and survival tactics of everyday existence in the kibbutz. Image of Victory is as relevant today as it was back in 1948, pitting religion, territorial disputes, and tradition against one another. 

The film overflows with fearless female characters, each unique and bold. Joy Rieger plays Mira with undeniable star quality. She is a woman confident in her skin, owning her sexual power. Like most women in Image of Victory, Mira shirks the patriarchal structure. She is an authentic feminist icon. 

Amir Khoury plays Hassanin with eccentric flair. As the sophisticate among soldiers, he is a “fish out of water.” His narration provides a stark contrast to each group’s reality. In truth, Image of Victory is a brilliant ensemble piece. The pure emotion of these characters will remain long after the credits roll. Knowing the film is based on actual events tears at your heart. 

The look of the film is beautiful. The attention to detail, lighting, costumes, and cinematic framing, right down to the closing credits, all scream period era, sweeping drama. The script has everything from war scenes to relationships in which you’re bound to feel invested. A lingering dread looms over the narrative, keeping the audience on their toes. But, the genuine portrayal of humanity at its most desperate keeps you in awe. Isreal’s most expensive production fits perfectly into Netflix’s awards season slate. Image of Victory is the kind of film they need to reel in cinephiles for the long haul. 


Please tune in to Netflix to watch IMAGE OF VICTORY
on Friday, July 15th!
Directed by Avi Nesher (Past Life, The Other Story)
Produced by Ehud Bleiberg (The Band’s Visit, The Iceman)
Screenplay by Avi Nesher
Inspired by true events and story by Liraz Brosh and Ehud Bleiberg
Starring:
Joy Rieger (Best Actress, Vierges, Tribeca 2018)
Amir Khoury (Fauda)
Ala Dakka (Fauda)