Jointly
Organized
by:
Organized
by:
Original name: Synonymes
English name: Synonyms
Year: 2019
Run time: 123'
Language: French, Hebrew
Type (Colour/ Black & white): Colour
Country: France, Israel, Germany
Director: Nadav Lapid
Producer: Saïd Ben Saïd, Michel Merkt
Cast: Tom Mercier, Quentin Dolmaire, Louise Chevillotte
Screenplay: Nadav Lapid, Haim Lapid
Cinematographer: Shai Goldman
Editor: Era Lapid, François Gédigier, Neta Braun
Sound Designer: Marina Kertész, Sandy Notarianni,
Christophe Vingtrinier
Costume Designer: Khadija Zeggaï
Production Designer: Pascale Consigny
Production Company: SBS International
World Sales: SBS Distribution
World Sales Phone: +33 1 45 63 66 60
World Sales Email: assistant@sbs-productions.com
Nadav Lapid was born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1975. This director and screenwriter studied philosophy at Tel Aviv University. Later he earned a degree at the Sam Spiegel Film & Television School in Jerusalem. His short film Kvish (Road) screened in the 2005 Berlinale Panorama. His debut feature film Policeman won the Special Jury Prize at Locarno in 2011 while The Kindergarten Teacher featured in the 2014 Semaine de la Critique at Cannes. In 2015, Lama? (Why?) screened in Berlinale Shorts. He is a recipient of the French Order Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres.
In Paris, things do not exactly get off to a good start for Yoav. He knocks on the door of a flat, only to discover the place is empty and, while he is taking a bath there, his things are stolen.He is determined to get rid of his nationality as quickly as possible. For him, being Israeli is like a tumour that has to be surgically removed. Becoming French, on the other hand, would quite simply mean his salvation. Yoav first tries to replace his language. From now on, he will not utter a single word of Hebrew. The dictionary becomes his constant companion. The necessary visits to the Israeli embassy annoy him; he finds his compatriots to be a total burden. But the naturalisation test also has its pitfalls.Based on his own experiences, Nadav Lapid explores the challenges of putting down roots in a new place. His attempt to find himself awakens past demons and opens up an existential abyss. A tragicomic puzzle that wisely knows how to keep its secrets.
