Come Closer

"Come Closer" by Tom Nesher was one of the most prominent Israeli films presented at many festivals and screenings, and the hype for it was real. Therefore, I came with high expectations for a very high-quality film, and I was not disappointed in the slightest. In fact, I believe it's one of the best and most important Israeli films of recent years, and I highly recommend watching it.

In the lead role, Lia Elalouf, appearing for the first time on a feature film, portrays one of the most complex and emotionally charged characters I've seen in recent times, especially in Israeli cinema. The recent Ophir Award winner (for her first cinematic role!) delivered an amazing performance, showcasing the character's complex emotions and unique personality in an extraordinary way.

Also making her debut on the big screen, Daria Rosen plays the supporting role in the film and delivers breathtaking acting that deeply impressed me. She too received a nomination for the Ophir Award (again, impressively for a first film role), and it's certainly deserved. With a character somewhat opposite in personality to Elalouf's, she also succeeds in presenting complex emotions and internal conflicts in an amazing yet fundamentally different way, offering another perspective on coping with grief after the loss of a loved one. Together, Elalouf and Rosen lead the film as the professionals they are and serve as its beating heart, as well as the heart of the story it seeks to convey.

Without spoiling or delving into specific plot details, just a quick glance at the film's synopsis shows that it deals with a very painful and difficult subject, and in my opinion, it successfully handles this task. The film is deeply moving, and I believe that Tom Nesher's script, which she says is based on "real emotion," conveys this emotion beautifully, personally and intimately through the camera lens. As mentioned, the lead actresses carry the film, but they do not do so without being supported by a talented crew in cinematography, editing, costumes, set design, and more. The musical choices often take the viewer by surprise with impressive contrasts to what's happening on screen (in a positive and refreshing way) and add another layer to the viewing experience. The original score composed for the film is also moving and serves as a wonderful and essential addition.

Tom Nesher, in her first full-length feature film, masterfully orchestrates the process in what feels like the work of a seasoned filmmaker. Her true talent is evident in every moment on screen-in both writing and directing. It feels grand yet also intimate and focused at the same time. The film's Ophir Award win is well-deserved, and Tom Nesher is emerging as a brilliant filmmaker, with the Israeli film industry's eyes on her as one of the most promising names of recent years. It's no surprise when I say I foresee a bright future for her in her career, and this is undoubtedly just the beginning.

"Come Closer" is a powerful and gripping Israeli creation, and one of the best films made in the country in recent years. It's hard to miss the film's sweeping success at festivals and award ceremonies, and it's always exciting to see this happen for a film that so fully deserves it. I highly recommend going to see it and experiencing one of the most unique stories presented on screen in recent years, and supporting a work that I'm proud to see representing Israel at the Oscars and various other international award ceremonies. As a joint creation led by Nesher, Elalouf, and Rosen, this is a stirring experience and a very brave film-may there be more like it in Israeli cinema.

A highly visible elephant in the room here is the accidental death of writer/director Tom Nesher's teenage brother, who was the son of one of Israel's most prominent moviemakers. At a preview screening, Tom Nesher noted that one incident the movie reproduces from real life is that after the fatal accident, the dead boy's sister looks through his belongings in hopes of finding some surprise. In real life, she didn't fine one, but in the movie she does. It turns out he had a serious girlfriend. (If you saw "The Cakemaker," you may guess what's coming.)

The character who, as the sister, is Tom Nesher's counterpart (yes, Tom Nesher is a woman) is, does not, we may be thankful, represent an idealized version of Nesher herself. In fact, she is not very likeable, and since she is the protagonist, the movie is a bit the harder to enjoy until we become reconciled to her. Although she's said to have been very close to her brother, there's not much material to demonstrate their closeness and thus win the audience's sympathy before the accident occurs.

As the movie progresses, the sister and the previously unknown girlfriend help one another, or exploit one another, in the attempt to retain the boy somehow as part of their lives. Nesher says she spent a lot of time preparing the actresses, and she incorporated contributions from them-- partly because as a former newsperson she believes in the importance of background. And the effort paid off with awards at Tribeca and in Jerusalem.