Programm

EJNAIM PEKUCHOT
EYES WIDE OPEN
Haim Tabakman, IL/D/F 2009

Freitag / Friday, 13. November 2009, 19:00 h, Votivkino
Sonntag / Sunday, 15. November 2009, 21:00 h, Votivkino

Produktionen/Production Companies Arte, Filmförderung Hamburg Schleswig-Holstein, Israel Film Fund, Keshet Broadcasting, Pimpa Film Productions, Riva Filmproduktion, Totally Produzent/Producer Rafael Katz Regie/Director Haim Tabakman Buch/Script Merav Doster Kamera/DoP Axel Schneppat Schnitt/Editor Dov Stover Musik/Music Nathaniel Mechaly DarstellerInnen/Cast Ran Danker (Ezri), Tzahi Grad (Rabbi Vaisben), Ravit Rozen (Rivka), Zohar Shtrauss (Aaron)

Spielfilm, Farbe, 35mm, 91 Minuten, hebr. OF, engl. UT
Feature Film, colour, 35mm, 91 min., Hebrew OV, English subtitles

Diese israelisch-deutsche Koproduktion feierte bei den Filmfestspielen von Cannes 2009 im Rahmen der Reihe „Un certain regard“ die Weltpremiere. In seinem Erstlingslangfilm erzählt Regisseur Haim Tabakman die ungewöhnliche Liebesgeschichte zwischen dem jüdisch-orthodoxen Familienvater Aaron und dem schwulen, charismatischen Religionsschüler Ezri. Mit seinen homosexuellen Neigungen in der strengen Gemeinschaft Jerusalems stößt Aaron auf religiöse Tabus und muss gegen Zwänge kämpfen. Auch Aarons Frau Rivka spürt den Druck, der auf ihrem Mann lastet. In starken, eindrucksvollen Bildern zeigt der Film eine für Frauen und auch Männer enge Welt. „Recalling Amos Gitai's Kadosh and David Volach's Chofschat Kaitz/ My Father My Lord (which Tabakman edited) for both its careful attention to anthropological/sociological detail and measured pace, the soberly fascinating pic shows the attractions and disadvantages of life in a closed religious community. The sense of belief and belonging comes through clearly, as does the warmth of home and family. But it's a compact, rigidly ordered world in which everyone knows everyone else's business. The eyes of the community inevitably fall upon those who do not conform.” (www.variety.com)

Thirty-eight-year old Aaron, a respectable butcher in the ultra-orthodox Jewish community of Jerusalem, is married to Rivka and is a dedicated father to five children. After his father's death, Aaron is looking for an assistant to replace him. One day, a young and handsome homeless Yeshiva student, Ezri, enters the butcher’s shop by chance. Aaron takes pity on the young man and decides to be his patron. He hires him to work in his shop, teaches Ezri the craft of slaughtering, and houses him in the shop's back room. Gradually, they become friends and even soul mates. One day, when they go to a remote "Mikve" (a sacred ritual bath) an intimate moment occurs between them, which bring them to make love.

Der Film wird mit Chote/Sinner gezeigt.
The film is screened together with Chote/Sinner.

Einleitung/Introduction: Jérôme Segal (Historiker am Wiener „Interdisziplinären Forschungszentrum Sozialwissenschaften“ und seit 2006 Mitarbeiter des Jüdischen Filmfestivals Wien)