Restoration

Official Selection - Competition 2011 / Boker Tov, Adon Fidelman / Israel 2010

After the death of his business partner, Mr Fidelman’s antique furniture restoration shop finds itself in difficulties; the same could be said about his relationship with his son. The film is a carefully played psychological study about characters in contemporary Israeli society. Is it better to persist with one’s plans, come what may, or might it help to try to understand others?

Restoration

Synopsis

When his business partner of many years dies suddenly, Yaakov Fidelman realises his antique furniture restoration shop is on the point of bankruptcy. Fidelman’s son, who doesn’t get along with his father, wants to close the shop for good. "Without Malamud you are nothing,” he hears people saying. A ray of hope arrives in the form of apprentice Anton, who discovers an old piano in the back of the shop which could conceivably be spruced up and sold for big bucks. Will Mr Fidelman be able to establish peace within his own family and find tranquillity within himself? This subdued film gently conveys feelings of melancholy and despair, but also the compulsion not to give up. It observes its protagonists in intimate proximity and tries to find an understanding for their differing motives. The characters are faced with various decisions that will fundamentally influence not only their own lives, but the lives of the people close to them – and choosing the right path often requires serious contemplation. New beginnings are difficult, particularly with advancing years.

About the film

105 min / Color, 35 mm
European premiere

Director Joseph Madmony / Screenplay Erez Kav-El / Dir. of Photography Boaz Yehonatan Yaacov / Music Avi Balleli / Editor Ayala Bengad / Producer Chaim Sharir / Production Yezira Ivrit Ltd. / Cast Sasson Gabai, Henry David, Sara Adler, Nevo Kimchi, Ruth Burstein / Contact Yezira Ivrit Ltd.
www: www.sharir.name

About the director

Joseph Madmony

Joseph Madmony (b. 1967, Jerusalem) is a film and television director and also a screenwriter. He was one of the first graduates of the Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem and he went on to write and direct (with David Ofek) the successful TV series "Bat Yam-New York” (1995-97). Again with Ofek, he also created the 2003 drama The Barbecue People (Hamangalistim), which was included on the programme of several dozen festivals all over the world. He won an Israeli Academy Award for Best Drama for the television mini-series "Melanoma, My Love” (2005), and its film version was selected for the Montreal IFF.

Contacts

Yezira Ivrit Ltd.
Gershon st. 41, 53405, Tel Aviv
Israel
Phone: +972 356 209 14
Fax: +972 356 209 15
E-mail: chaim@sharir.name

Guests

Chaim Sharir
Producer

Joseph Madmony
Film Director

Sasson Gabay
Actor

Erez Kav El
Screenwriter

Kathleen McInnis
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