ISRAEL AT 60
The fledgling country that was in 1948 to become Israel had little interest in the cinema as it took all of its resources and energy to provide for life’s basic needs – food, water, and security. Most of the films produced in the early days were pro-Zionist documentaries. It was mostly foreigners who came to Israel to make films. Indigenous fictional feature filmmaking as well as broadcast television did not exist until the early 1960s. Then, a new group of young filmmakers influenced by the French New Wave and Italian Neo-realism emerged intent on finding their own voices and to formulate a new Israeli cinema. The Israeli New-Wave, or Kayitz (in Hebrew, “summer”) made films prompted by artistic rather then commercial success. The festival is proud to have USA premiers of the latest films by two giants in the development of the Israeli cinema, Judd Ne’eman ( Nuhzat al –Fuad) and Moshe Mizrahi (Weekend in Galilee).
Throughout its history, Israel’s diverse population and continued state of political crises have made for provocative and unique stories that are reflected creatively in its cinema.
English speaking audiences should be particularly interested in films from Israel. Israel is as ethnically and nationally diverse as the United States. English is Israel’s second language, after Hebrew and before Arabic, so it is not uncommon to find that many Israeli films have English dialogue.
In this 60th year celebration of Israel, the Syracuse International Film Festival is proud to present 7 Israeli films, including:
Crossing Borders by Bilal Yousef, 58 minutes, documentary (program 42)
Encounter Point by Ronit Avni, 85 minutes, documentary (program 98)
No Exit by Dror Sabo, 90 minutes, fiction (programs 16 and 54)
Nuhzat al-Fuad by Judd Ne’eman, 110 minutes, fiction (programs 17 and 69)
Rita Working Title by Michal Bat-Adam, 100 minutes, fiction (programs 19 and 26)
The Woman of Sarejevo by Ella Alterman, 58 minutes, documentary (program 80)
To Die In Jerusalem by Hilla Medalia, 76 minutes, documentary (program 11)
The films listed above will be screened on Tuesday April 29 and Wednesday April 30 at the Everson Museum, as well as additional screenings throughout the festival. Please check the program or website for details.
The Films of MOSHE MIZRAHI
Moshe Mizrahi stands at the pinnacle of the Israeli cinema. To this date Mizrahi is the only Israeli filmmaker to win an Academy Award (Oscar) for Best Foreign Film, Madame Rosa (1977) starring Simone Signoret. He was also nominated for 2 other Academy Awards, for I Love You Rosa (1972), and The House On Chelouche Street (1973). Other notable awards include The Traveller (1969) Award by the Senate of the City of Berlin, Berlin Film Festival, Daughters Daughters (1973) Official Israeli Entry at the Cannes International Film Festival.
Since the 1970s Mizrahi has continued to garner praise and respect for his films. Prolific and meticulous every Mizrahi film is crafted like a fine cut diamond, including the sparkle. He is an actor’s director and has a keen eye for color and composition. His stories always reflect life’s complexity while creating and maintaining compelling dramatic construction in deceptively easy narrative form.
Some other films by Moshe Mizrahi include: Rachel’s Man (1975) starring: Michal Bat-Adam, Leonard Whiting, Rita Tushingham, and Mickey Rooney, I Sent a Letter to my Love (1979), starring Simone Signoret, Delphine Seyrig, and Jean Rochefort, Une Jeunesse (1982) starring Charles Aznavour, Michael Lonsdale, Ariana Larteguy, and Jacques Dutronc. The Children’s War (1984) starring Kira Sedgwick and Sebastian Kenneas, Mangeclous (1988) starring Charles Aznavour, Jean-Luc Bideau, Bernard Blier, Jean-Pierre Cassel, Jacques Dufilho and Pierre Richard, Warburg, A Man of Influence (1991) starring Jean-Pierre Cassel, Julian Glover, Dominique Sanda and Sam Waterson, and Women (1996) starring Michal Bat-Adam, Amos Lavi, and Ilor Harpaz.
SYRACUSE INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PRESENTS A TRIBUTE TO MOSHE MIZRAHI
The Syracuse International Film Festival will present Moshe Mizrahi with the SYRFILM 2008 Achievement Award and screen a 4 film tribute program of his work, including:
Saturday, May 3 - 6:30pm - Center for the Performing Arts (program 83)
I Love You Rosa (1972) 72 minutes, starring Michal Bat-Adam (nominated: Academy Award)
In Jewish law an unmarried brother has to marry the childless widow of his dead brother. In this story the younger brother is only 12 years old when his brother dies. The requirement is avoided by a legal fiction, but as time passes in the story, the relationship between the widow and her brother in-law changes in a surprising way.
Saturday, May 3 – 9:00pm – Center For the Performing Arts (program 84)
Madame Rosa (1977) 105 minutes, starring Simone Signoret, Sami Ben-Youb, Claude Dauphin (winner: Academy Award)
Madame Rosa lives in a sixth-floor walkup in the Pigalle; she's a retired prostitute, Jewish and an Auschwitz survivor, a foster mom to children of other prostitutes. Momo is the oldest and her favorite, an Algerian lad whom she raises as a Muslim.
Sunday, May 4 - 12:00pm – Center For the Performing Arts (program 102)
Every Time We Say Goodbye (1984) 95 minutes, starring Tom Hanks, Christina Marcillac, Avner Hizkiyaha
An American flyer who joined the RAF before his country was in the war is recovering from a leg injury in Jerusalem. Through an English friend he meets a quiet Jewish girl whose close-knit family originally came from Spain. The two are attracted to each other but she is convinced their diverse backgrounds mean it could never work; not only is he a gentile, his father is a protestant minister.
Sunday, May 4 – 3:00pm – Palace Theater (program 93)
US Premier Weekend In Galilee (2008) starring Sharon Alexander, Hana Maron, Igal Sadeh, Shiri Guedani, Oded Teomi, Marina Shoef
A reworking of Anton Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya, set in the Galilee during the autumn of 1996, with the elderly head of family returning to upset the family dynamics of a small pastoral farm. The latest masterpiece by our Festival’s honored guest and Achievement Award winner.
Moshe Mizrahi will be present at the above screenings.
