Something I have wondered about many times is why, exactly, we don't see more genre film coming out of Israel. The nation produces a decent number of films every year and given its history you'd expect a certain amount of apocalyptic imagery to come seeping through, just as is the case with Japanese film. But strangely it doesn't happen much.
Enter Dan Sachar, a young writer-director who has just completed his sophomore film school project, a post-apocalyptic short titled When It Will Be Silent. Shot in the demilitarized zone between Israel and Jordan the film captures, in Sachar's words, "the last day of a love tale in a morbid post apocalyptic world." Having just had the chance to see the full short, it's hard not to see parallels to Tarkovsky's Stalker in the way that Sachar uses an actual, blasted setting for his film and it's also hard not to imagine that this is just a small part of a much larger story. No matter how you look at it, however, it's fantastic.
I can't share the full short but I do have a brief teaser below the break and a pair of behind the scenes stills at the link below.
I believe due to the fact that there is just to much chaos in the area to really call it a safe zone. but overall i would love to see this short as well as give porps to the director for taking a risk in an area that you have to constantly be on the look out for.
Aikadanurm, thanks for the porps ;)
Todd, you were so right about the influence from Stalker, I actaully wrote the script right after I saw it for the 2nd time at a 35mm screening. such an amazing experience.
Well the review and the trailer has me interested. Will it eventually be available to be seen outside of festivals?
Color me intrigued and impressed. If at all possible, would love to see the short online. Crossing fingers Mr. Sachar and Todd can work on this.
I would certainly be happy to host it but it's ultimately up to Dan. I think the plan for now is to try and do festivals first.
Any word yet which festivals it will be at?
Hi all, it's Dan, the director of this short film.
I'm really really happy to see that the short is making interest :)
If it was my choice alone, I would have posted the full short here, but unfortunately I'm forbidden by my college (for now) as it trying it's luck on festivals across the world.
I still don't know where the film will be screened (and let's hope it will!) but as soon as I will know, I promise to post it here!!
Thank you for your interest again!
Dan.
Dan,
Good luck with the festival search. I'm pretty sure you'll do fine. Hopefully you have some input in regards to getting it into fests. My recommendation would be to try for some Sci-fi and Fantasy themed ones as it should be a shoe in in at least those. At work right now, so don't have the time to compile a list.
Hi Dan, and hello evrybody! I want to recommend this short film to all of you. I'v seen it early this month at the Cinema South Film Festival in Israel, and my reaction was "amazing! amazing! amazing!". The film won second place in a short film competition and their were kind enough to give me a copy. Seen it six time so far.. i just can't get enough.
guy.
Hi all!
Just wanted to update that When It Will Be Silent will be premiered at the
2009 Toronto After Dark Film Festival, This August!
So whoever is planning on visiting.. be sure to come and check it out :)