Bi 2025 Archives

Hot Milk

Straight from the official competition of the Berlin Film Festival comes the debut directorial of the excellent screenwriter Rebecca Lenkiewicz who wrote the Oscar winning screenplay for “Ida” and the lesbian drama “Disobedience”.

“Hot Milk” is a story of a mother and daughter unfolding during a hot Spanish summer and is based on the critically acclaimed novel by Deborah Levy. Sofia (Emma Mackey, star of “Sex Education”) is taking care of her demanding mother Rose (veteran actress Fiona Shaw) who is wheelchair bound. They come to Spain to meet with a local doctor (Vincent Perez) who is known for his unconventional treatments to find a potential medicine for the mother’s mysterious illness.

The visit takes a turn when the young girl meets a German woman on the beach (Vicky Krieps “Love Me Tender”) and allows herself for the first time to test her boundaries and experience sexual enjoyment for the first time on her way to unshackle herself from her mother and towards self-fulfillment and adolescence.

In her debut directorial Rebecca Lenkiewicz explores the interpersonal relationships between a mother and her daughter and creates a thrilling psychological drama that burns itself under the skin. Mackey and Shaw are excellent in the leading roles.

1 Girl Infinite

Two teenage girls live together in the frenzied and colorful town of Changsha in China. When one of them gets attached to a drug dealer, the other girl’s love for her will cause her to risk everything to keep her loved one beside her.

The film is based on a real life experience of director and film star Lilly Hu.

“1 Girl Infinite” is a live portrait of current youth and the nature of puppy love, obsession and lust. Hu’s hometown of Changsha, with its beauty parlors, internet cafes, shopping centers and hotels is a character all on its own. It is a bustling city with something interesting happening in every corner.

Inside all this hubbub is an intimate and personal creation that is well made and gives us very impressive performances of both its heroines.

Rains Over Babel

Babel is a legendary nightclub that is an oasis to anyone who is queer, freak and different in town. La Flaca is Death herself that resides in the club, and she plays with the lost souls that gamble with her through the years. Will they be able to win against death herself?

Director Gala Del Sol’s first full length feature is an intoxicating fusion of alternative tropic dream and modern-day Columbia. Del Sol creates a hypnotic and fantastic world where life and death clash and destinies are rolled with dice. The sexiest of casts is portraying sparkling characters that takes us to a journey full of life which is all wild subversion where each and every one of them fights their own demons and it’s all happening in a retro-punk-futuristic-colorful style full of passion.

“Rains Over Babel” is an ode to the resilience of queer characters from the fringes of society that are fighting for one thing- to be themselves without fear.

The result is sexy, sparkly, daring and ambitious cinema that promises an unforgettable experience.

In association with the Instituto Cervantes

Blue Moon

“Blue Moon”, Richard Linklater’s delightful new film, centers on one important night which changes the course of life for one Lorenz Hart (“Blue Moon”, “The Lady Is a Tramp”, “Manhattan” and “My Funny Valentine”). This particular night happens to be March 31st, 1943, which is the opening night of the Broadway production of “Oklahoma!”.

During this night, in real time, Hart discovers that Richard Rodgers, his creative partner, abandons their project in favor of a new partnership with Oscar Hammerstein, with whom he writes the successful plays that include: “Carousel”, “The King and I”, “South Pacific” and “The Sound of Music”.

Ethan Hawke delivers an impactful performance as Lorenz Hart, a closeted alcoholic, who also likes to be in the presence of young women. One of these women, played by Margaret Qualley (“The Substance”). Bobby Cannavale portrays a bartender. Richard Rodgers, Hart’s friend and secret lover, who leaves him abruptly because of his unstable nature, is perfectly portrayed by Andrew Scott (“All of Us Strangers”).

“Blue Moon” captures an especially painful moment during an evening which marks the end of a career for a tortured genius, while doing so with a comedic touch and a painfully sobering style. All this results in 100 minutes which are unique and especially amazing.

Ari

Winner of ‘Golden Camera’ Leonor Serraille’s third film (“Jeune femme” “Mother and Son”) brings us an authentic and intimate portrait of a lost young man. Ari is an elementary school teacher who suffers a nervous breakdown in the middle of class. His father kicks him out of the house being fed up with his son’s lack of direction, who at 30 years old still refuses to take life seriously and he wants his son to take responsibility for once in his life.

Ari finds himself wandering the streets of Lille, trying to make connections with old friends, exes and strangers. Through his journey, bisexual Ari will discover he’s not the only one who feels loneliness and alienation in the modern world.

Director Leonor Serraille manages through actor Andranic Manet to turn Ari into a vulnerable yet relatable character, despite his many flaws. A character that is slowly letting go of its fear and for the first time is ready to face reality. This is a small and moving film.

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

The True Story of Tamara de Lempicka & The Art of Survival

Please be aware – the screening at 27/10/2025 is NOT in Tel-Aviv Cinematheque.

Tamara De Lempicka was one of the most influential artists of the 20th century- a mother, a feminist, a style icon and a proud bisexual woman who celebrated her sexuality. Lempicka fled the war and became a symbol because of her artistic view. She embodied the spirit of Art Deco and painted high society women from a feminine perspective, erotic and daring and full of passion. Encouraged by her grandmother, young Tamara was discovered as a shining talent when she combined cubism, classicism and surrealism in order to reinvent the female form- not as a sexual object, but as a heroine.

In her fascinating documentary, director Julie Rubio dives into the colorful biography of De Lempicka and uncovers her unusual life with never before seen home movies. The result is a thrilling movie about a fascinating artist and woman.

In association with the Polish Institute Tel Aviv

Blind Love

A love triangle goes out of control in Taiwanese director Julian Chou’s second film. Shu-Yin is a mother that quietly runs her family- a husband who’s a respectable surgeon and her rebellious teenage son who refuses to follow his father’s footsteps. An encounter with Shu-Jin, an amateur photographer and an ophthalmologist, will awaken memories, longing and desires she had been suppressing for a long time.

While Shu-Yin is dealing with her old desires, her son Han discovers completely new desires and passions. He accidentally meets Shu-Jin and falls for the charismatic woman who gives him new energy for life.

Director Julian Chou created a melodrama that delves into the fragile bonds that define family dynamics. She explores identity, longing and exposes the tension between the traditional family cell and the westernization of Taiwan.

“Blind love” navigates gently between queerness, gender and cultural expectations.

In association with the Embassy of The Taiwan

Nicola

Nicolas is a divorced Argentinian baker who lives with his three children in a small Bolivian town in the heart of the wild surrounded by forests, waterfalls and lakes.

This ideal environment is clashing with the burden of life and the responsibility of raising children, earning money and the physical and emotional need to be who you are in a community that might not accept you.

Filmmaker Pablo Terrazas documents Nicolas’ life until the moment he decides the reveal a deep secret and start a journey of self-healing and discovery.

In association with the Instituto Cervantes

Unspoken

Seweryn, a 30 years old bisexual musician, is on the brink of making all his dreams come true- he’s about to sign a contract with a small record label. His life take an unexpected turn when he becomes a victim of rape by Michael, a powerful businessman.

At first Seweryn doesn’t remember what happened, but then his body begins to send distress signals and he loses his most valuable asset- his voice. In order to get his voice back Seweryn must deal with a buried childhood trauma, back to his family roots in Poland.

“Unspoken” is a film about hope, the power of love and mental sturdiness. This is a film about discovering light in the darkest moments and building life again with stronger foundations.

The screening is limited to 18 and above.