The Vanishing Soldier (Hebrew: החייל הנעלם) is a 2023 Israeli war drama thriller film directed by Dani Rosenberg who co-wrote with Amir Kliger.[1] It is about a deserter soldier who sets out on a journey back home but his situation is complicated when his superiors think he was kidnapped by the enemy.[2] It stars Ido Tako[3] accompanied by Mika Reiss, Efrat Ben Zur, Tiki Dayan and Shmulik Cohen.[4]
| The Vanishing Soldier | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Dani Rosenberg |
| Written by | Dani Rosenberg Amir Kliger |
| Produced by | Avraham Pirchi Chilik Michaeli Moshe Edery Leon Edery Itamar Pirchi |
| Starring | Ido Tako |
| Cinematography | David Stragmeister |
| Edited by | Nili Feller |
| Music by | Yuval Semo |
Production companies | Israel Film Fund United Channel Movies |
| Distributed by | Sophie Dulac Distribution (France) United King Films (Israel) |
Release date |
|
Running time | 105 minutes |
| Country | Israel |
| Languages | French Hebrew |
The Vanishing Soldier had its world premiere on August 5, 2023, at the 76th Locarno Film Festival,[5] where it competed for the Golden Leopard.[6] The film received 11 Ophir Award nominations including Best Picture.[7]
Synopsis
editA year from today. Shlomi, an 18-year-old soldier, flees the Gaza Strip battlefield and makes his way back to his girlfriend Shiri. When Shlomi discovers that the military elite is convinced he was kidnapped during the fog of war, he no longer hides from the soldiers he believed were chasing after him, but from his own identity, which has become a trap. In spite of his parents’ pleas that he returns to his unit before it's too late, Shlomi takes a desperate chance on love, with dramatic consequences.[8]
Cast
edit- Ido Tako as Shlomi
- Mika Reiss as Shiri
- Efrat Ben Zur as Shlomi's Mother
- Tiki Dayan as Shlomi's Grandmother
- Shmulik Cohen as Shlomi's Father
- Mushy Vider as Deputy Officer
Release
editIt had its world premiere on August 5, 2023, at the 76th Locarno Film Festival,[9] to later be screened in mid-August of the same year in the Kinoscope section of the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival.[10] It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Flash Forward' section and was screened on 8 October 2023.[11]
Accolades
edit| Year | Award / Festival | Category | Recipient | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Locarno Film Festival | Golden Leopard | The Vanishing Soldier | Nominated | [12][13] |
| Ophir Award | Best Picture | Nominated | [14][15] | ||
| Best Director | Dani Rosenberg | Nominated | |||
| Best Actor | Ido Tako | Nominated | |||
| Best Supporting Actress | Efrat Ben Zur | Nominated | |||
| Best Screenplay | Dani Rosenberg & Amir Kliger | Nominated | |||
| Best Cinematography | David Stragmeister | Won | |||
| Best Original Music | Yuval Semo | Nominated | |||
| Best Editing | Nili Feller | Nominated | |||
| Best Makeup | Shir Matzrafi | Nominated | |||
| Best Casting | Limor Shmila | Nominated | |||
| Best Sound | Neal Gibbs | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ Locatelli, Luigi (2023-08-09). "Locarno Film Festival 2023. THE VANISHING SOLDIER di Dani Rosenberg: corri Shlomi, corri". Nuovo Cinema Locatelli (in Italian). Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "בינלאומי: ההישג הגדול של עידו טאקו". mako. 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Bleasdale, John (2023-08-06). "Locarno Title 'The Vanishing Soldier' Drops Trailer, as Helmer Dani Rosenberg Talks Buster Keaton, Israeli Protests (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "Introducing the Kinoscope Programme of 29th Sarajevo Film Festivala". sff.ba (in Bosnian). Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "נטש עמדת שמירה וברח: סיפורו האישי של הבמאי הפך לסרט שיתחרה בלוקרנו". Ynet (in Hebrew). 2023-07-05. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "החייל הנעלם בפסטיבל לוקרנו". www.filmfund.org.il. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Brink, Yaron Ten (2023-08-02). "קרב ענקים בפרס אופיר: 11 מועמדויות לאבי נשר - 12 לאיילת מנחמי". הקרב על פרסי אופיר: 11 מועמדויות לאבי נשר - 12 לאיילת מנחמי | טיים אאוט (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "THE VANISHING SOLDIER". www.filmsfromisrael.com. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "The Vanishing Soldier". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ Dalton, Ben. "Sarajevo's Kinoscope strand selects 'Disco Boy', 'The Vanishing Soldier'". Screen. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "The 28th Busan International Film Festival: Selection List". Busan International Film Festival. September 5, 2023. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
- ^ "Locarno76: full program announced, plus Excellence Award Davide…". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "The Pardo d'oro at Locarno76 goes to Mantagheye bohrani (Critical…". Locarno Film Festival. Retrieved 2023-08-26.
- ^ ""שבע ברכות" מוביל במספר המועמדויות בטקס פרסי אופיר". Ynet (in Hebrew). 2023-08-02. Retrieved 2023-08-13.
- ^ "פרסי אופיר 2023: רשימת הזוכים המלאה". רוה. ביקורות סרטים, חדשות וטבלת המבקרים. 2023-09-10. Archived from the original on 2023-09-18.