Film Program at Beit Avi Chai

We have been watching films and discussing them with the directors in my latest film series at Beit Avi Chai, called Fact and Fiction - Diversity Within.

Last week we saw Eli Tal-El's The Name My Mother Gave Me about Ethiopian youngsters and their roots trip to Ethiopia. Check out what Brian Blum wrote about this session at
www.thisnormallife.com

Last night, we saw Until Tomorrow Comes, a TV drama scripted and directed by David Deri. The story is about 3 generations of women in a development town (Yerucham). I have written about this film before in this blog. In a fascinating conversation, the filmmaker talked mostly about the middle-aged mother, Lillian, played by Raymonde Abeccasis (mother of Yael Abeccasis) who is not a professional actress but as a singer she certainly displayed wonderful stage presence. She plays the role of a widow -- sandwiched in between her own mother, also a widow, and her daughter, about to become divorced. Lillian is finding it difficult to love again. She states quite openly that it wouldn't be right. Deri explained that in her traditional world, she believes that it would be a betrayal of her first love, her husband, the father of her children if she were to remarry. The change comes when her mother, the aging grandmother, is put in a home for the elderly. Lillian is suddenly free of a burden -- her commitment to her mother's sacrifices also as a widow for so many years and her traditional way of life. This break from the required path permits her to finally take the hand of the man who is offering her another chance at love.

Far from the Crowd

People often ask me for films that deal with life in the development towns. Some of the best films in this category would be the following, all of which are stories of women, some have been reviewed on this blog: Turn Left at the End of the World (feature film), HaMakom (short drama) and Fata Morgana (documentary).

I would like to add to the list a compelling TV drama, directed and scripted by David Deri, called Until Tomorrow Comes (2004), which tells the story of three generations of Israeli women, all from the same family, living in Yerucham, a small town in the northern Negev.

The drama portrays real-life issues for these women, including grappling with the difficult decision about whether to put grandma in a home for the elderly, how to soothe the nerves of a young bride, and how there can be room in your life to love again.














Three generations of women – a tale of loneliness, widowhood, and impending divorce combined with warmth, empathy and compassion.

Aisha, the aging grandmother at beginning stages of Alzheimer, represents the immigrant generation. She has never quite acclimated to life in Israel. Constantly looking back on her life in Morocco, she especially misses her now long-gone husband. Lillian, her daughter is shouldering the responsibility for the family ever since her husband passed away 12 years ago. She runs a bridal salon and is being romantically pursued by the local chief of police. Her grown daughter, Etti, is "temporarily" living at home with her mother, having recently decided to leave her husband. The mother and daughter are played by a distinguished mother and daughter team of professional actresses – Raymonde and Yael Abecassis.

Until Tomorrow Comes (50 minutes) is available from the producer, Eran Riklis, at eriklis@netvision.net.il or contact the filmmaker directly, David Deri, david_deri@walla.com