YDA Gold Winner on Turning Heartache into Art

How did you get into directing?

I began directing because of a broken heart. My first love abandoned me suddenly after five years together and I felt like I was going to explode. I decided the best way to handle the break-up would be to do the thing I’ve always feared – make a film. This is how my first short, Humor, was born – out of personal tragedy. It’s about a frustrated street artist who’s ignored by everyone, and then he suddenly screams. Ironically, his scream goes viral and he conquers the world. More ironically, the short film turned into my own metaphorical scream and it ended up conquering the world when it was officially selected to screen at dozens of film festivals such as New York Film Festival and Mill Valley Film Festival, even winning Best Non-European Independent Dramatic Short in 2014 at the European Independent Film Festival.  

What was the inspiration for Vows?

Vows is based on a true story that happened to my close friend and the film’s screenwriter and producer, Tal Miller. A couple of years ago, he organised a surprise silver wedding party for his parents. They came home and were astonished to find 80 of their nearest and dearest gathered in their back yard, including the rabbi who had married them 25 years earlier. Miller told me that what he remembers most about that day was the look on his father’s face. He recalled his father looking “like a man standing on the railway tracks, ready for the train to hit him head on” – and I couldn’t resist. It was just the perfect inspiration for a film. 

“I directed Wolinitz to not speak and just express himself using body language, something Golan was not aware of. The tension between the couple…created a powerful intensity… my favourite part of the film.”

How long was the shoot and what was the most challenging aspect of the project?

We shot the film over three nights in a big house based in the Israeli mountains near the city of Haifa – which is a very cold and windy place once the sun goes down. There were so many challenges: from creatively directing each scene in one shot, to motivating and instructing a crew of more than 50 who were freezing and craving sleep. But the bedroom scene, where Amos (played by Dalik Wolinitz) is alone with his wife Orit, (Shiri Golan) and confesses that he wants to leave her, was probably the most difficult one to film. Capturing sincerity in the moment was tricky, so I decided to let Wolinitz and Golan improvise the scene. I directed Wolinitz to not speak and just express himself using body language, something Golan was not aware of. The tension between the couple, helped by Wolinitz’s unpredictable silence, created a powerful intensity – which is my favorite part of the film.   

What was the casting like for the job and did you know what characteristics you wanted the protagonists to have?

As the film is based on Tal Miller’s story, we were looking for actors that matched the qualities and characteristics of his parents. Dalik Wolinitz and Shiri Golan had us mesmerised from their first audition. We cast Israeli actress Riki Blich as the lover as she’s someone I personally admire a lot. While the son Eyal, whose role was inspired by Tal, was played by one of Israel’s best young actors, Michael Moshonov, with Maya Wertheimer taking the role of his sister. I feel privileged to have worked with such an incredible cast. They really taught me how to be a better director by listening to my guidance. 

What have you learned during the process of making the film?

I’ve learned and understood about the power of friendship. Directing such a sensitive story based on your friend’s parents’ biography is not a simple task emotionally – not for me and especially not for him. That’s why I can’t thank my dear friend Tal Miller enough, as he put his heart on the table and trusted me completely. Plus he sacrificed more than anyone else involved to make this film a reality. Of course, we had our disagreements, but our mutual respect and friendship won through – and today we’re closer than ever. That said, I’ve also learned to trust my intuition and follow my instincts no matter what. 

What does it mean to you to win a YDA and what can we expect to see from you in future?

Winning a Gold YDA for Vows and being nominated for my music video Legal Eyes [above] is the best compliment I could ask for as a young director. I’ve recently signed to Great Guns for global representation and both films caught [global CEO] Laura Gregory and [global EP] Sheridan Thomas’ eye, inspiring them to approach me. I was completely taken aback by their invite to bring me to Cannes Lions – my first time! Thanks to them I could attend the ceremony and enjoy one of the best moments of my life.