“I think this story is deeply relevant to the events that have taken place, and continue to take place, in southern Israel. I hope it may offer viewers some inspiration and comfort.”
The Israeli premiere of the much-awaited Etty, Hagai Levi’s latest series, will open the 24th Cinema South Festival, to be held at the Sderot Cinematheque, November 6-13. This is the festival’s first full season since the Israel-Hamas War broke out two years ago.
The festival will also hold a retrospective dedicated to Levi, one of Israel’s most successful television creators, both here and around the world.
Etty created a buzz when it was shown at the Venice Film Festival, held at the end of the summer. The series is based on the diaries of Etty Hillesum, published decades after her death under the title An Interrupted Life. Hillesum was a young Dutch Jewish woman, and her diaries illuminate her extraordinary inner journey between 1941 and 1943. As the danger to her life grew with the tightening Nazis control over Amsterdam, Hillesum discovered a profound spiritual strength that culminated in an extraordinary act of solidarity.
Levi said in a statement: “I’m happy that Etty was chosen to open this particular edition of the Sderot Festival, which marks two years since October 7 and the return to the South – a festival of great importance.
“The series goes beyond the time and place in which the events occurred, and to tell, in universal terms, the story of one woman’s confrontation with a reality of oppression and killing; of her spiritual triumph; and her struggle to preserve her humanity even in the most horrific circumstances.
“I think this story is deeply relevant to the events that have taken place, and continue to take place, in southern Israel. I hope it may offer viewers some inspiration and comfort.”
Looking back on Levi’s work
The retrospective of Levi’s work will also mark 20 years since the debut of his groundbreaking series Betipul, about a psychologist treating his patients. It has been remade around the world in dozens of countries and languages, including as HBO’s In Treatment.
The retrospective will include screenings of other television series and movies by Levi, among them Snow in August, Our Boys, and Scenes from a Marriage. A master class with Levi will also be held at the festival.
Festival director Tamir Hod said, “Hagai Levi is a creator, screenwriter, and one of the most outstanding directors in Israeli television and film across generations. His series Betipul, created with Ori Sivan and Nir Bergman, was adapted in 18 countries, including the award-winning American version – the first Israeli series ever sold to an American broadcaster.
“Levi’s work explores human relationships and emotions with exceptional restraint and sensitivity. We are thrilled and look forward to introducing our audience to his fascinating body of work, and to hosting the first screening of his powerful new series, Etty.”
The executive producer of Etty is Yael Fogiel, in collaboration with the production companies Komplizen, TopKapi, Quiddity, and SIPUR.
The Cinema South Festival was founded and run by Sapir College’s School of Audio and Visual Arts. The festival highlights and documents the region of the southern Israel through film, as well as presenting international films that fit with the spirit of the region.
For more information, visit the festival website www.atsapir.ac.il/cinema/csf.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.yahoo.com ’
