Shiva

by Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz

Israel

Dirctors: Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz

Script: Ronit Elkabetz, Shlomi Elkabetz

Cinematographer: Yaron Sharf

Sound: Itay Elohev, Aviv Aldema

Music: Michel Korb, Sergio Leonardi

Cast: Ronit Elkabetz, Albert Iluz, Yaël Abecassis, Simon Abkarian, Hana Laszlo, Moshe Ivgy, Keren Mor, Alon Aboutboul, Evelin Hagoel

Production: Taleia Production, July August Production

Distribution:
Les Films du Losange
22 av. Pierre 1er de Serbie
75116 Paris
France
Tel: 0033 1.44.43.87.10
Fax: 0033 1.49.52.06.40
Mail: [email protected]
www.filmsdulosange.fr

Year: 2008

35 mm, Colour, 115 min, 
OV Hebrew with French Subtitles

Many worldwide film festival selections

Israel, 1991. The whole Ohaion family weeps for the death of one of them. Faithful to the tradition, the relatives are supposed to gather in the house of the deceased and pray for seven days. While everyone seems to follow the custom, cohabitation becomes more and more heavy. Forced to bear each other day and night, brothers and sisters soon express their bitterness and quarrels overtake reverence. The atmosphere becomes unbearable and truth which was buried long ago finally surfaces.
“We wanted to tell the story from the point of view of the whole family and not focus on one or two characters. The family gives us the tools to confront the world and it remains with us till our last day, for the better or for the worst… I understand the traditional value of mourning. There is something in the ceremonial rites which pays tribute to man. This tradition somehow is also tribute to our roots. Our roots give us strength. This wish to depict this tradition comes from nostalgia for the family, a value which tends to disappear.” Ronit Elkabetz