A film by Efrat Corem
Shlomi Ben Zaken has been raising his only daughter Ruchi (11) as a single father in his mother’s house in Ashkelon. The Ben Zaken family lives in a building on pillars in the southern part of the city, in an enclave populated for years by generations of immigrants in mute dependency ties of survival and identity. Like the pillars, the people in the enclave witness what is happening around them and are assimilated in the local scenery. But the conflict between dependency and autonomy, between being swallowed up in the enclave and identity, never ends. Shlomi struggles with himself and with his surroundings to retain custody of his daughter, but also recognizes his inability to function as a father and to provide his only daughter an opportunity and a better life like the one he would want for himself.
Will he succeed in setting his daughter free, and enabling her to be graced with what he never gained?
Festival participations: Cinema South FF, Isreal (opening film), Jerusalem IFF, Berlinale Forum, Hong Kong IFF, Sguardi Altrove FF (Best Film), BAFICI competition, Yerevan Golden Apricot FF, Entrevue FF Belfort (Grand Prix Janine Bazin Award) a.o.
Download press kit here.
CAST
Ruchi Ben Zaken: Rom Shoshan / Shlomi Ben Zaken – Eliraz Sade / Lion Ben Zaken – Mekikes (Ronen) Amar / Dina Ben Zaken – Chani Elemlch / Ricky – Batel Mashian / ֹYair – Robby Elmaliah
CREW
Director: Efrat Corem / Writer: Efrat Corem / Cinematographer: Shafir Sarussi / Editor: Nisim Massas / Sound designer: Michael Gorevitch / Fine-cut editor: Lev Goltser / Producer: Itai Tamir / Produced with the help of: Israel Film Fund, Gesher film fund
Original Title: בן זקן / shot in HD / available for screenings in DCP / color / American Vista 1:1.85 / 90 min / PCM Surround 5.1 / original language: Hebrew with English subtitles / Laila Films 2014
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