Crossroads Catalogue 2009

ISRAELOff-White LiesCreditsProduced by: Gum FilmsDirector: Maya KenigScriptwriter: Maya KenigBudget: 800.000 EurosMaya KenigDirectorContactAddress: 70 Maze st. Tel Aviv, Israel 65789T: 972 3 6850024M: 972 54 7640928maya.kenig@gmail.comFilmographyAround Trip (short), 2008In Utero (short), 2007Top of the World (short), 2006My Mom (doc), 2005SynopsisAfter years of being separated from her father, Libby, a rebellious teen, is sent to Israel to live with himwhile the Second Lebanon War rages in the background. But her father, Shaul, who turns out to be a flakyinventor, is “between apartments”. With nowhere to live, he comes up with a brilliant plan. The two of themwill pose as refugees from the North, seeking shelter from the bombardments with a family in Jerusalemwho offers to put them up based on this false pretence. Finally in a “normal” household, Libby and Shaulstart to build their father-daughter relationship.Gradually the phony identities and lies take their toll. Libby feels estranged and unwanted by her egocentricdad, and the chaotic atmosphere caused by the war doesn’t help. In a desperate attempt to be noticed,Libby takes a step into adulthood from which there is no return.Director’s StatementWhen the Second Lebanon war began, I became a Mother, and found myself breastfeeding while watchingnews on TV. Amid the horrors, one item stood out- Esther, from a bombarded city up north, was sittingin Yael’s kitchen in Tel-Aviv, chatting. Apparently two days earlier, Esther and Yael were completestrangers, but now they were close friends. Yael’s family took in Esther’s family, on account of the war. Itwas beautiful, amusing and mostly absurd. My Dad was “between apartments” then. So he and hisdaughter, my half-sister, were hanging around some bizarre places- and it was a blast.I suggested he act like Esther and find a family to host them. He just laughed. I decided to make a filmabout it instead, about a father and daughter looking for shelter. Not just walls and a ceiling, but a home,like the one I’m trying to create for my daughter.26