Subscribe to Print Edition | Thu., September 10, 2009 Elul 21, 5769 | | Israel Time: 12:46 (EST+7)
Haaretz israel news English
web haaretz.com
Haaretz Toolbar
Diplomacy
Defense Jewish World Opinion National
Print Edition
Car Rental
Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Focus U.S.A. Travel Week's End Anglo File
Share |
Last update - 21:44 30/07/2009
New Israeli film on Lebanon War makes it to Venice Film Festival
By City Mouse
Tags: Venice Film Festival, Lebanon 

Venice Film Festival representatives on Thursday announced that Israeli filmmaker Shmulik Maoz's film "Lebanon" had made the list of 15 movies that will compete for the Golden Lion prize, the Silver Lion, and Best Director.

Making the festival is no mean feat for Maoz, who joins a very short-list of directors whose first film has been exhibited in the official competition. The film's Israeli actors Yoav Donat, Itay Tiran, Oshri Cohen, Michael Moshonov, Zohar Strauss, and Dudu Tasa will all compete for Best Actor.

Like "Beaufort" and "Waltz with Bashir", two of the more prominent Israeli films of the last decade, "Lebanon" is based on events that took place in the first Lebanon War. Maoz, who wrote and directed the film, served in the war as a combat soldier.
Advertisement

Nearly the entire film takes place in the cramped quarters of an Israel Defense Forces tank, where the film's four main protagonists are situated. Several characters join them, including the commander of the infantry unit that accompanies the tank, a Syrian prisoner, and a soldier from the IDF-allied Phalangist sect, who is called on to rescue the tank crew from distress.

"It excites me to the point of tears", Maoz said Thursday. "It turns out that the Israeli movies that deal with the Lebanon War attain interest and resonance across the world. It is a movie about my personal war memories. The actors, my production partners, and I made the movie in a mighty effort and with the deepest love, and the international acclaim that we attained strengthens us and warms our hearts".

Katri Shchori, CEO of the Israel Film Fund said Thursday that, "The fact that the director of the Venice Film Festival, Marco Müller, one of the most powerful men in the world cinema scene, chose an Israeli movie for the competition when in many years not one Israeli film was accepted, proves that the worldwide success of the Israeli cinema is not incidental, but a proven fact".

The film will be screened between the 2nd and 12th of September, after a red carpet gala opening. The following day, a press conference is expected to take place featuring the director and the actors.

The Venice Film Festival is considered one of the three most important film festivals in the world alongside Cannes and Berlin. The festival that concludes the biennial in Venice is also the oldest of the three, and the only one, according to the claims of many film critics, that succeeded to preserve its unique style throughout the years
PROMOTION: Mamilla Hotel
Bookmark to del.icio.us  
 
Bar Kochba booty
Largest ever cache of antique coins uncovered in a deserted Judean Hills cave.
Netanyahu's secret visit
Spokesman: Putin did not meet with PM in Moscow to discuss Iran arms deal.
  1.   Not the best topic for an international award 21:48  |  Natallie Durson 30/07/09
  2.   the world likes seeing Israeli bad times 00:01  |  Joey 31/07/09
  3.   Lebanon war was initiated by Palestinians and won by Israel 17:31  |  JP 31/07/09
  4.   I´m crazy to see this movie. Cheers Israel 17:47  |  JP 31/07/09
  5.   no 2 18:16  |  Simon 31/07/09
Special Offers
Advertisement
Date Local Jewish Singles
Ready to meet your match? Join Jdate today!
Eldan Rent a Car
Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on online reservations
Holidays are here
Minerals Aromatics Body Lotion for free! Click here.
Junkyard
Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt
Amazing Jewelry
Visit SoKoBe.com for the best priced fine jewelry in the world
More Headlines
12:14 IDF officer: Soldiers can't beat Palestinian civilians
12:15 High Court: Israel must raze illegal Palestinian homes
12:15 Netanyahu bureau mired in anarchy, turf wars and lies
11:44 Ex-Mossad chief: Only military action can thwart Iran nukes
12:17 IDF tells soldiers: Shoot at Gaza kidnappers, even near captive
11:27 Former HRW analyst said to be avid collector OF Nazi souvenirs
10:38 Ramadan in Ramallah / Partying in the West Bank's Tel Aviv
09:01 TV ROUND-UP: Putin denies meeting Netanyahu, Olmert lauds Gaza pullout
10:11 Spain: Syria optimistic about resuming peace talks with Israel
10:29 Should IDF shoot terrorists holding soldier captive?
12:35 'Lost Jews' campaign is racist, despicable and disgusting
08:20 YouTube bans AIDS awareness ad showing 'Hitler' having sex
04:54 Poll finds fewer Americans believe Islam encourages violence
Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Site rules |
| Israel 2009 election results | Makom: Engaging on Israel
| Search engine marketing
Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.
© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved