{{short description|2004 film directed by Raphael Nadjari}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}} {{Infobox film | name = Avanim אבנים | image = Avanim.jpg | caption = Theatrical poster | director = Raphael Nadjari | producer = Geoffroy Grison<br />Marek Rozenbaum<br />Itai Tamir<br />Noah Harlan (co)<br />Jean Labib (co) | writer = Raphael Nadjari | starring = Asi Levi<br />Danny Steg<br />Uri Gavriel | music = Nathaniel Méchaly | cinematography = Laurent Brunet | editing = Godefroy Fouray | released = {{Film date|2004|02| |Berlin Film Festival|2004|07|14|Jerusalem Film Festival|2005|03|16|France|df=y}} | country = Israel<br>France<br>United States | language = Hebrew }} '''''Avanim''''' (Hebrew: אבנים) is Raphael Nadjari's fourth feature film. It was shot in and around Tel Aviv in 2003, in HDCam. The film was presented in the Berlin Film Festival as a Panorama: Special presentation in 2004.
The screenplay was also written by Raphaël Nadjari, marking his first film in Hebrew. The story revolves around a woman dissatisfied with her family life and career who decides to unburden herself and start anew after her close friend is killed by a thrown stone. Stones were placed on her grave during the funeral, inspiring the film's title.
The name of the film is derived from the Hebrew word for stones, which in Hebrew, holds deep cultural and religious significance.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Berlinale: Avanim (Stones) |url=https://www.aviva-berlin.de/aviva/html/berlinale_avanim.html |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=www.aviva-berlin.de}}</ref>
The film employs a Dogme 95-inspired aesthetic, characterized by intense improvisation and grainy digital video close-ups, amplifying the claustrophobic atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cockrell |first=Eddie |date=2004-02-25 |title=Avanim |url=https://variety.com/2004/film/reviews/avanim-1200534819/ |access-date=2024-12-07 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Plot== Michale is a woman in her mid-30s. She is married with a young son and works in her father's Tel Aviv accounting firm, which serves religious institutions. She divides her time between her child, her husband, her work, and the man with whom she is having an affair. When Michale learns of her lover's sudden death, her life is shattered.
==Cast== * Asi Levi (Michale) * Uri Gavriel (Meir) * Florence Bloch (Nehama Tinski) * Shaul Mizrahi (Gabai) * Danny Steg (Shmoulik) * Gabi Amrani-Gur (Rav Ozeri) * Eli Eltonyo (Gabriel)
==Release== Following its premiere as a Panorama Special presentation at the Berlin Film Festival, Avanim premiered in New York at the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and was released theatrically in France later that year.
==Awards and nominations== *Berlin Film Festival (2004) - Panorama *Cinema Tout Ecran (Geneva) - Winner, Best Film *Seville European Film Festival - Winner, Golden Giraldillo to Best Film<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://variety.com/2004/scene/markets-festivals/euro-focused-seville-taps-avanim-top-pic-1117913552/|website=Variety|title=Euro-focused Seville taps 'Avanim' top pic|date=15 November 2004}}</ref> *France Culture - Winner, Director of the Year *European Film Awards - Nominee, Best Actress (Asi Levi)
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb title|362427}} * [http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Entertainment_109/Avanim_-_Los_Angeles_Film_Festival_printer.php LA Film review] * [http://www.aviva-berlin.de/aviva/html/berlinale_avanim.html Review from the Berlin Film Festival]
{{Raphaël Nadjari}}
Category:2004 films Category:Films directed by Raphael Nadjari Category:2004 Hebrew-language films Category:French independent films Category:Israeli drama films Category:Films scored by Nathaniel Méchaly Category:French drama films Category:American drama films Category:2004 French films Category:2004 independent films Category:2004 Israeli films
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