Drama 2025 Archives - Page 2 of 4

A Wolf Among the Swans

A new film by screenwriter Guillermo Arriaga (“21 Grams”, “Babel”) and starring the wonderful Argentinian actor Dario Grandinetti (“Talk to Her”, “Wild Stories”)

The film, which was shot in Rio de Janeiro and Paris, was inspired by the story of a Rio-born dancer, Thiago Soares – portrayed by Matheus Abreu and the unique relationship he developed with his mentor – Cuban-born Dino Carerra (Grandinetti). Soares, who grew up on the outskirts of Rio, used to perform with his friends on the streets of the city during the day and at local dance competitions at night. In between he tried to pick up girls and make a living doing odd jobs.

When he’s offered a scholarship to join a professional ballet school Thiago Soares doubts he’d survive even a day there, but a meeting with Dino- a sharp and brilliant Cuban dance teacher (who also hides an illness that was not to be talked about in those years) will change the course of his student’s life and turn him into an international star and the lead dancer of the Royal Ballet in London for 14 years.

“A Wolf Among the Swans” is an inspiring film with precise cinematography, snappy editing and a wonderful soundtrack. With a well written script and superb performances from its cast the result is a thought provoking film about a firm friendship between two men from completely different worlds and the ability to change and become the best version of oneself.

Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day

“Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day” – Croatia’s official nomination for Best Foreign Film in the 2025 Academy Awards, is an historical epic and an ode to love, loyalty and the power of friendship and art.

The film that spans over decades, follows lovers Lovro and Nenad and their long-time friendship with Steven and Ivan, all of them were part of a gay group turned filmmakers while navigating their lives through communist, post-war Yugoslavia.

The film studio they run gains world fame, but they are forced to compromise their arts and beliefs to produce propaganda for the communist regime. The more success they gain the more the fascism of the government seeps into their studio and they suddenly find their lives in danger despite being Nazi fighting heroes.

“Beautiful Evening, Beautiful Day” is a luscious, intimate and politically charged cinema and the result is a heartbreaking piece on resistance. This is a film that is crying against oppression, against silencing and for the freedom to live, love and create art without fear.

Talented filmmaker and director Ivona Juka says this film was inspired by a relative of hers that was forced to hide his sexual identity for most of his adult life (homosexuality was still a crime in Croatia up until the 90’s).

Warning: This film contains explicit sex scenes and graphic violence.

In association with the European Union

Love Letters

Please be aware – the screening at 24/10/2025 is NOT in Tel-Aviv Cinematheque.

It’s 2014 and Nadia (Monia Chokri) and Céline (Ella Rumpf) are expecting their first child.

37 years old Nadia is carrying the baby. Her partner, Céline, is a 32 years old musician and a DJ. Céline is still trying to find her place and a sense of legitimacy amongst her judgmental friends, her mother (a renowned pianist who spends most of her time travelling the world) and the French law which isn’t very forthcoming towards same-sex couples who choose to be parents.

Director and screenwriter Alice Douard based the script on her personal experiences when she went through the exact same process on her way to motherhood. With a loving look and plenty of empathy she explores her characters, their couple’s conflicts and personal dilemmas.

César award winners Ella Rumpf (“Raw”, “Marguerite’s Theorem”) and Monia Chokri (“Love Me Tender” and Xavier Dolan’s films “Lawrence Anyway” “Heartbeats”) portray the roles of Céline and Nadia with sincerity, love and plenty of empathy and gives us the feel of two women in love who undergo an alternative and powerful experience- this film proves once again just how great are those two actresses are.

In association with the Embassy of France & Institut français de Tel Aviv

Calcinculo

Celebrating The Week of the Italian Language at TLVFest

Reception for ticket buyers at 4:30 PM in the festival lounge (Hall 6) courtesy of the Swiss Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute

15 years old Benedetta lives in rural Italy with her parents and two younger sisters. After work her father enjoys his hobby of fixing old cars while her mother is taking her frustration out on Benedetta. When a travelling fair comes to town Benedetta meets Amanda, who lives an independent life and defies gender norms. Benedetta is immediately drawn to the older Amanda’s self confidence and her independence. The two hardly speak, their tentative friendship is not propelled by big emotions but by mutual affection, curiosity and recognizing each other’s differences.

Director Chiara Bellosi describes her heroines in the small, quiet moments and defines them in a poetic accuracy that is rare in teenage films.

“Calcinculo” gently explores an unusual friendship story while revealing a tale of self discovery and liberation.

In association with the Embassy of Italy & Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv
In association with the Embassy of Switzerland

Summer School, 2001

The third millenia had barely started and 17 years old red haired Kien returned to his family and their little market stall in the Czech Republic after a decade growing up with his grandmother in Vietnam. Instead of the warm welcome he expects he finds a distant father, a worried mother and a clingy little brother.

“Summer school 2001” may be told in a light tone but it is a complex and multi-layered film on the differences between generations and cultural identity. This is an authentic piece telling a coming-of-age story of a young man who feels a stranger in the community he belongs to in a foreign country.

Director and screenwriter Dužan Duong’s debut film brings Kien’s story in a very moving and unique way and gives its audience a new and intriguing voice you will want to follow.

In association with the Czech Centre Tel Aviv

Lilies Not for Me

In early 20th century England, a young writer named Owen James is hospitalized in a mental institute for his sexual orientation. He shares his story with a sympathetic nurse; of the love he shared with a handsome doctor that became convinced their ‘condition’ could be cured. Director and screenwriter’s Will Seefried romantic debut film sheds light on a dark and mostly unknown period of LGBTQ history.

The film “Lilies Not For Me” has the classic production qualities of Merchen Ivory, so if you loved films such as “Maurice”, “A Room with a View” or “Call Me by Your Name”- this is the film for you.

Irish actor Fionn O’shea who had already portrayed several gay characters in films such as “Dating Amber” and “Handsome Devil” is fantastic in the main role. Also starring Robert Aramayo (“The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power”), Erin Kellyman (“The Falcon and the Winter Soldier”) and Jodi Balfour (“Ted Lasso”).

A Second Life

Please be aware – the screening at 26/10/2025 is NOT in Tel-Aviv Cinematheque.

After she set the screen on fire in the masterpiece “Titane” (2021 Winner of Cannes Film Festival), actress Agathe Rousselle returns to the big screen with a small, intimate and moving film.

Elisabeth (Rousselle) is recovering from a breakup from her partner. She dives headfirst into her work as a concierge in Paris and accompanies rude tourists to their Airbnb apartments that they have rented for the Olympic Games. This is a stressful job that requires her to travel all over the city. Her sole repose is disconnecting her hearing aid and staring at Monet’s “Water Lilies”.

Everything changes when she meets a young and energetic tourist (Alex Lawther “The End of the Fucking World”) while the city around her is buzzing with energy for the Olympic Games, and he leads Elisabeth on unexpected adventures.

“A Second Life” is a piece about the unexpected connections we make through life. The film touches on subjects such as mental health and disabilities with a lot of charm. This film was made in the streets of Paris and manages to capture the true magic of the French capital, without all the cliches.

Perro perro

Some men are just dogs! Juan happens to find one in the wild while on a nice vacation with his girlfriend and another couple of friends. He adopts him, bathes him, feeds him, plays with him and gives him plenty of love and affection, even though his girlfriend warns him not to get too attached.

Argentinian provocative director Marco Berger (“The Astronaut’s Lover”, “Los Agitadores”) who’s films we frequently screen at the TLVFest, comes back with an absurd and daring homo-erotic tale on the human need to connect to a living creature and when that connection becomes a primal basic animal instinct. The result is thought provoking about controlling relationships even in our daily lives.

A True Story

Guilio and Alessio are two gay men in their twenties who meet in Rome during a scorching August. Despite being different, they are attracted to each other. Alessio is in Rome for one weekend only. This short lived relationship will expose ancient wounds and will force the two to deal with unexpected tenderness and the blooming of an unfamiliar emotion- love.

“A True Story” is a wonderful Italian sweet on love in a digital age where everything is being uploaded to social networks and how this will affect the love stories of people of Gen Z.

In association with the Embassy of Italy & Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv

Some Nights I Feel Like Walking

Many boys escape their villages and conservative small towns to the big city Manilla in search of a better life, but this city isn’t really waiting for innocent young men and many of them find themselves making a living as sex workers.

When one of them dies, his friends decide to fulfill his last wish – to go back home.

Director and screenwriter Petersen Vargas manages to recreate those youngsters’ experiences, the loneliness of the big city, the danger in sexual encounters with violent clients, the need to belong and the brotherhood forged in misery.

The cast is young and excellent, the cinematography is breathtaking, the music is sweeping and the ability of the director to fully relate with those boys makes “Some Nights I Feel Like Walking” to a powerful and unforgettable cinematic experience.

In association with the Embassy of The Philippines