What a Wonderful Place
{{Short description|2005 film}}
{{Infobox film
| name = What a Wonderful Place
| image =
| caption = Theatrical poster
| native_name = איזה מקום נפלא
| director = Eyal Halfon
| producer = Assaf Amir
Yoav Roeh
| writer = Eyal Halfon
| cinematography = Nily Aslan
| starring = Uri Gavriel
Evelyn Kaplun
Avi Uria
Yossi Graber
| music = Avi Belleli
| editing = Einat Glaser-Zarhin
| released = {{Film date|2005|07|08|Karlovy Vary International Film Festival}}
| runtime = 104 minutes
| country = Israel
| language = Hebrew
Filipino
Tagalog
Russian
English
}}
What a Wonderful Place ({{langx|he|איזה מקום נפלא}} - Eize Makom Nifla) is a 2005 Israeli drama film directed by Eyal Halfon. It includes three seemingly unrelated storylines which intersect at the end, set in southern Tel Aviv, the Arabah and an unidentified Israeli urban suburb. The film deals with issues of trafficking of women and the lives of foreign workers in Israel.
Plot
The plot follows three stories that seem unrelated, that intersect in a uniform plot line. The first story takes place in South Tel Aviv, and follows Franco, a former policeman who undertakes to work for a big mobster, goes through a process of self-discovery through Zhana, an escort who is under his protection. In parallel, another plot line is underway in the fields of the southern Arava, where Seltzer, a farmer working in the Arava, tries to find Zhanna following a picture he found by chance, and has to trust one of his Thai workers in his search. The third story takes place in a housing estate in an urban suburb, where Aloni, a nature reserve inspector who leads a pursuit of foreign workers, is forced to deal with his sick father, and does this with the help of Eddie, a Filipino nurse. During the film, the viewer is exposed to the world of the foreign workers in the State of Israel.
Cast
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Actor Name !Character Name |
| Uri Gavriel
| Franco |
| Evelyn Kaplun
| Zhana |
| Avi Oriah
| Yishai Zelzer |
| Yossi Gerber
| Mr. Aloni |
| Yoav Heit
| Yoav Aloni |
| Marina Shoyaf
| Julia |
| Evelin Hagoel
| Ahuva |
| Dvir Benedek
| The Boss (Mafia) |
| Michael Rozhezki
| Sergei |
| Michael Varshevik
| the doctor |
| Galia Shtern
| Yishai's wife |
| Raymond Bagastan
| Adi |
| Eran Ivner
| detective |
| Tzadfong Loying
| Viset |
| Mimi Debau
| Nini |
| Olga Titov
| prostitute |
| Julia Menis
| Tania |
| Julia Talis
| Anna |
| Meiri Israel Mugbar
| Omer |
Awards and nominations
- Ophir Awards:
- Best Film (won)
- Best Actor (Uri Gavriel, won)
- Best Screenplay (Eyal Halfon, won)
- Best Art Direction (Ido Dolev, won)
- Best Editing (Einat Glaser-Zarhin, won)
- Best Director (Eyal Halfon, nominated)
- Best Actress (Evelyn Kaplun, nominated)
- Best Supporting Actor (Avi Uria, nominated)
- Best Supporting Actress (Marina Shoif, nominated)
- Best Cinematography (Nily Aslan, nominated)
- Best Costume Design (Keren Ron, nominated)
- Best Music (Avi Belleli, nominated)
- Best Sound (Israel David, David Lis and Aviv Aldema, nominated)
- 40th Karlovy Vary International Film Festival:
- Crystal Globe (nominated)
- Special Jury Prize (won)
- Best Actor (Uri Gavriel, won)
- Festroia International Film Festival:
- Golden Dolphin (won)
- Brooklyn International Film Festival:
- Best Screenplay (Eyal Halfon, won)
External links
- Eyal Halfon, [http://acheret.co.il/en/?cmd=articles.312&act=read&id=1983 "We have decided to grant you the award, in spite of it all"],[http://acheret.co.il/en Eretz Acheret] Magazine
{{Festroia Best Film}}
{{Israeli submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:What A Wonderful Place}}
Category:2000s Hebrew-language films
{{Israel-film-stub}}