Amos Gitai
Gitai at the 2008 Toronto International Film Festival
Born	(1950-10-11) 11 October 1950 (age 61) Haifa, Israel
Occupation	Filmmaker, Author
Spouse	Rivka Gitai (1980-present)
Website
amosgitai.com

Amos Gitai (Hebrew: עמוס גיתאי‎), born 11 October 1950 in Haifa, Israel, is an Israeli auteur filmmaker. He is mainly known for making documentaries and feature films, surrounding the Middle East and Jewish-Arab conflict. Between 1999 and 2011 seven of his films were entered in the Cannes Film Festival for the Golden Palm Award as well as the Venice Film Festival for the Golden Lion award.^[1]

Biography[link]

Gitai was born in 1950 in Haifa to Munio Weinraub and Efratia Margalit.^[2][3][4] His father was an architect of the pre-war Bauhaus movement in Germany.^[5] His parents changed the family name to Gitai. Amos holds a degree in architecture from the Technion in Haifa and a PhD in Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley.

The 1973 Yom Kippur War interrupted his architecture studies as he was called up to reserve service as part of a helicopter rescue crew.^[6] While serving, he shot 8mm footage of the fighting, claiming this served as his entry into the world of film making.^[7] On his birthday, Gitai's helicopter was shot down by a Syrian missile on the Golan Heights.^[8] This experience had a great effect on his life and forms the basis of his film Kippur, an autobiographical depiction of his war service.^[9]

Film career[link]

Amos Gitai and Jeanne Moreau, tournage de Plus Tard, 2008

Gitai began his career directing documentaries. In 1979 he directed his first full-length Israeli film, Home (1979). The film was rejected by the only television channel in Israel, however, it was screened at the Berlin and the Rotterdam International Film Festivals.^[10] His next film, Field Diary (1982), which takes a critical look at the Lebanon War, was rejected also. This led to Gitai leaving Israel for France, where he would continue his career for the next decade.^[11] While in France, Gitai directed a series of fiction films such as Esther, Golem, and The Spirit of Exile. He also directed Berlin-Jerusalem (1989) in this period; the film was based on the biographies of the German expressionist poet, Else Lasker-Schüler, and the Russian Zionist, Mania Shohat, and their respective itineraries towards the mythical Jerusalem of the 1930s.^[12][13] The film represented Israel in Venice Festival Film.^[14]

In 1993, after Yitzhak Rabin's victory in the elections and the Oslo Accords, Gitati returned to Israel and continued his career.

Kadosh (2000) was criticized in Israel for its anti-religious themes and proved a success overseas; earning a score of 70/100 on review aggregator Metacritic, denoting "Generally favourable" reviews; and an 89% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[15][16]

Kippur (2000) was Israel's first large-scale cinematic depiction of the considerably difficult and traumatic Yom Kippur War of 1973. Critics praised its absence of sensationalism and its unsentimental depiction of war.^[17] Negative criticism was concentrated on such details as the absence burnt tanks in the battlefield, that the Syrian soldiers are not seen at all, and the repetition of a shot of a ruined mosque used throughout the film.^[18][19] The film received positive acclaim, gaining a score of 75 on review aggregator Metacritic and a 79% "fresh" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[15][16]

Kedma (2001) was a retelling of Israel's War of Independence, in which Gitai sought to revise what he saw as many of the myths surrounding Israel's creation. It received mostly negative reviews: earning a score of 36 on Metacritic and a 31% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[15][16] It went largely ignored in his native country.^[20]

Alila (2002) is a tragicomedy set in a Tel Aviv apartment house, featuring an Altman-esque array of characters and an all-star Israeli cast. It received mixed to negative reviews, with a score of 57 on Metacritic and a 41% "rotten" rating on Rotten Tomatoes.^[15][16]

Amos Gitai with Hana Laszlo and Natalie Portman on the set of Free Zone, 2005

In recent years, Gitai has directed Promised Land (2004) about the trafficking of women in Israel and Free Zone (2005) with Israeli-American star Natalie Portman. Although the latter won the Best Actress Award at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival for Israeli actress Hanna Laslo,^[21][22] it was not well received critically. The film was given a score of 51 on Metacritic and a Rotten Tomatoes rating of 26% "rotten."^[15][16]

In his film Disengagement (2007), Gitai brings together a young Israeli man (Liron Levo) and his sister (Juliette Binoche) who lives in France with their father; they rediscover each other at the same time Israel is disengaging from Gush Katif. The cast includes Jeanne Moreau, Barbara Hendricks, Dana Ivgy, Uri Klausner, Israel Katorza and others. The film completes the Border Trilogy, with Promised Land and Free Zone.

One day you'll understand (Plus tard tu comprendras) (2008) is the story of a French writer tracing the story of his Jewish mother (Jeanne Moreau) and her family during World War II. The film is based on an autobiographical book by Jerome Clement, president of the Arte television channel and one of the leading figures of French culture. The film was relatively well received, receiving a score of 65% "fresh" from Rotten Tomatoes.^[16]

Carmel (2009) was based on Gitai's personal memories and combines extracts from the diary and letters of Gitai's mother, Efratia (1909–2004), with interviews of family members.^[23] All the Gitai family members (Efratia, Keren, Ben, Rivka and Amos) participated in the film as well as actors Keren Mor, Makram Khoury and Hillel Lusky. Rotten Tomatoes gave the film a weighted average score of 40% "rotten," indicating a unfavourable reception.^[16]

Roses à crédit (2010) is an adaptation of the novel by Elsa Triolet and takes a look at the materialist, post-war world of the French lower middle-class.^[24] The film shot entirely in France.

Gitai's films are not always popular with Israeli audiences; Kadosh and Kippur were well received, but his other films have not always found an audience.^[25] Some Israeli critics see Gitai's style as too "European" for Israel, and Village Voice critics called him "the Israeli nouvelle vague."^[26] Indeed, Gitai's films are considerably more popular in Europe whereas he is still somewhat of an outsider on the Israeli scene. Some Israeli critics also claim that Gitai's presentation of Israeli reality is often too simplistic for the Israeli audience and that it is an aspect of his films that non-Israeli audiences might take at face value.^{[citation needed]}

To date Amos Gitai has created over 80 titles throughout 38 years. On 2008 Amos Gitai receives the Leopard of Honor at Locarno International Film Festival. This life-achievement award is offered in recognition of the work of renowned directors whose creativity has had an unquestionable impact on contemporary cinema.^[27]

Filmography[link]

Amos Gitai and Henri Alekan, shooting Esther, 1986.

• Bayit (1980)
• Yoman Sadeh (1982)
• Ananas (1984)
• Esther (1986)
• Berlin-Jerusalem (1989)
• Golem, the Spirit of the Exile (1992)
• Zihron Devarim (1995)
• Zirat Ha'Rezach (1996)
• Metamorphosis of a Melody (1996)
• War and Peace in Vesoul (1997)
• A House in Jerusalem (1998)
• Tapuz (1998)
• Zion, Auto-Emancipation (1998)
• Yom Yom (1998)
• Kadosh (1999)
• Kippur (2000)
• Eden (2001)
• Kedma (2002)
• 11'09"01 September 11 (2002)
• Alila (2003)
• Promised Land (2004)
• Free Zone (2005)
• Disengagement (2007)
• Plus Tard (2008)
• Carmel (2009)
• The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness (2009)
• Roses à crédit (2010)

Exhibitions, performances[link]

• Correspondence, Efrati Gitai – Letters, Museum of Art, Ein Harod, Israel, 2011
• Traces - Munio Gitai – Weinraub, Museum of Art, Ein Harod, Israel, 2011
• Traces, an installation at the Palais de Tokyo, Paris, 2011^[28]
• Lullaby for my father, a video presentation in Kibbutz Kfar Masaryk, Israel, 2010
• The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness, (with Jeanne Moreau), Festival d'Avignon, France, 2009
• Traces - Evento, Bordeaux, 2009
• Munio Weinraub / Amos Gitai - Architecture und Film in Israel, Pinakothek der Moderne, ArchitekturMuseum, Munich, 2008-2009^[29]
• Munio Weinraub / Amos Gitai - Architecture and Film in Israel, Tel Aviv Museum, Tel Aviv Museum of Art 2008-2009
• Amos Gitai: Non-Fiction, MoMA (Museum of Modern Art) New York, 2008^[30]
• Exhibition in memory of his father Munia Gitai – Weinraub - Amos Gitai, Olivier Cinqualbre and Lionel Richard, Centre Pompidou, Paris 2006
• Public Housing - long video presentation screens, Ein Harod Museum, Herzliya Museum, Saitama Museum of Modern Art, Saitama, Japan, 2000
• Open Shen Zen - Performance, Helena Rubinstein Pavilion, Tel - Aviv 1998
• Exhibition in memory to his father - Munio Gitai – Weinraub, Jerusalem Museum, Israel, 1994

Books[link]

• Efratia Gitai – letters, Yediot books, Israel, 2011
• Efratia Gitai, Correspondanc (1929–1994), Gallimard, Paris, 2010
• Genèses, Jean-Michel Frodon, Amos Gitai, Marie-José Sanselme, Gallimard, Paris, 2009
• Monte Carmelo, Amos Gitai, Bompiani, Milano, 2004
• Parcours, Amos Gitai, Centre Pompidou, Paris, 2003
• Mont Carmel, Amos Gitai, Gallimard, 2003
• Munio Gitai Weinraub, Bauhaus architect in Israel, Richard Ingersoll, Electa, Milano, 1994
• The War of the Sons of Light Against the Sons of Darkness, Amos Gitai, Mazzotta, Milano, 1993

Books on Amos Gitai's work[link]

• Cinema di Amos Gitai: Frontiere e territori (Il), Serge Toubiana, Bruno Mondadori, Torino, 2006
• Amos Gitai: News from Home, Walther König, Köln, 2006
• The Cinema of Amos Gitai,Serge Toubiana, Baptiste Piégay, Lincoln Center / Cahiers du cinéma, Paris, 2005
• Amos Gitai, Serge Toubiana, Mostra internacional de cinema / Cosac Naify, São Paulo, 2004
• Exilios y territories, el cine de Amos Gitai, Serge Toubiana, Baptiste Piégay, Semana Internacional de Cine, Valladolid, 2004
• Exils et territoires: le cinéma d'Amos Gitai, Serge Toubiana, Baptiste Piégay, Arte Editions / Cahiers du cinéma, Paris, 2003
• Amos Gitai, Cinema, Politics, Aesthetics,Irma Klein, KM, Tel Aviv, 2003
• Amos Gitai, Cinema forza di pace, Edited by Daniela Turco, Le Mani, Genova, 2002
• The Films of Amos Gitai, a Montage, Edited by Paul Willemen,, BFI Publishing, London, 1993
• Amos Gitai, Edited by Alberto Farassino, Mostra Internazionale Riminicinema, Rimini, 1989

References[link]

External links[link]

• The Films of Amos Gitai, Amosgitai.com
• Amos Gitai at the Internet Movie Database
• Amos Gitai - Biography, NYTimes.com
• Amos Gitai, Hollywood.com

Keren Mor
Born	(1964-12-30) December 30, 1964 (age 47) Israel
Years active	1987–present
Spouse	Menashe Noy

Keren Mor (Hebrew: קרן מור‎; born December 30, 1964) is an Israeli actress and comedienne.

Biography[link]

While attending her mandatory military service in the IDF Mor studied acting in the Nissan Nativ Acting Studio in Tel Aviv. Mor's first major appearance was in the film "Abba Ganuv" (1987). Later on she played in several films, including Amos Gitai's "Berlin-Yerushalaim" (1989) and "Shuroo" (1991). In 1992 she played in the short film Marak Off along with Hagit Dasberg, and in "Kvalim" (1992) along with Arik Einstein and Moni Moshonov.

Mor significant break in the field of comedy-satire, occurred when she started appearing in the Israeli comedy TV shows "HaOlam HaErev" and "Zehu Ze!" and peaked in 1993, when she was selected, along with Shai Avivi, Dov Navon, Rami Heuberger and Menashe Noy, to participate in the new Israeli sketch series "Hahamishia Hakamerit". The show was broadcast between 1993-1997. Mor also participated with the staff members of the show in the 1996 film "Klavim Lo Novhim Beyarok".

In 1997 Mor played in Menashe Noy's film "1812 Overture" together with Ami Smolartchik and in "Bip" together with Dafna Rechter. In 1998 Mor participated in Noy's second film "trend" and in Amos Gitai's film "Yom yom" together with Hanna Maron and Dalit Kahan.

In 2000 Mor began playing in the Israeli drama television series "Ha-Burganim" in which she played with the original staff members of "Hahamishia Hakamerit". The show was broadcast between 2000-2005. During that time Mor also played in the TV short film "Bchora" alongside Dan Toren.

In 2004 Mor played in Joseph Pichhadze's film "Year Zero". During that year Mor began playing in the TV Sketch series "Ktzarim" in which she played alongside Moni Moshonov and Yuval Segal. The series has been running ever since. In 2005 Mor also participated in the film "Joy" together with Tal Friedman. In 2006 Mor played together with Ronit Elkabetz and Menashe Noy in the TV series "Parashat Ha-Shavua". In addition, in 2008 she played in the television series "Fafadyzi along with Menashe Noy and Moni Moshonov. In 2008 she played film Shlomi and Ronit Elkabetz's film "Shiva".

In addition, through the years Mor has played in several theater plays in the Haifa Theatre, the Habima Theatre, the Beit Lessin Theater and in the Cameri Theater.

Personal life[link]

Mor is married to the Israeli actor Menashe Noy. The couple have two children.

Selected filmography[link]

• Abba Ganuv - 1987
• Abba Ganuv II - 1989
• Berlin-Yerushalaim - 1989
• Shuroo - 1991
• Kvalim - 1992
• Hahamishia Hakamerit - 1993-1997
• Klavim Lo Novhim Beyarok - 1996
• Overture 1812 - 1997
• Yom Yom - 1998
• Ha-Burganim - 2000-2005
• Year Zero - 2004
• Ktzarim - 2004-2009
• Joy - 2005
• Foul Gesture - 2006
• Shiva - 2008
• Caramel - 2009

External links[link]

• Keren Mor at the Internet Movie Database

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