Kissufim is the name of a kibbutz that sits precariously close to Israel’s Gaza strip. It’s also the name and setting for a new feature film on Netflix.
Set in the summer of 1977 right after the Yom Kippur Wars and just before the Camp David peace accords, “Kissufim” takes viewers into the idyllic yet fraught world of a group of young Israeli soldiers and friends who volunteer there at the end of their military service. Trading the battleground for a gentler landscape, they spend their days working in the fields and barns, lounging and reading by the pool, dancing the hora, flirting, arguing, exploring love and sex and discussing their dreams for a future that is inherently fragile.
“This is a coming-of-age-story that captures a unique moment in time, yet its themes of friendship, love, sexuality, freedom, peace, conflict and loss of innocence are universal,” says “Kissufim” writer and director Keren Nechmad.
“Kissufim” she says, offers a rare glimpse into the everyday reality of life in Israel and on a kibbutz. The story is fictional, but it draws in part on stories Nechmad’s father shared about his own experience as a soldier volunteering on Kissufim, and his friendship with Elian Gazit, who inspired the character of “Eli” in the movie. “I saw an opportunity to dispel some of the myths surrounding kibbutz life, and to show global audiences the true spirit of peace and community that prevail there,” said Nechmad. “The film employs storytelling as a bridge to greater understanding and unity.”
The movie was filmed on location at the real Kissufim, with many residents working as background in scenes alongside an ensemble cast of young up-and-coming Israeli actors. The filming was completed ahead of the brutal events of October 7, 2023 (“Black Saturday”) which took the lives of several Kissufim community members. The eerily prescient film is dedicated to their memory.
In addition to its authentic portrayal of kibbutz life, the film offers a uniquely female perspective, according to 24-year-old actor Swell Ariel Or who plays “Eli” – one of the film’s central characters. “Women hold the power both on-screen and behind the camera in this film, and this creates an especially gentle and accessible rendering of what it is like to grow up and live in Israel,” said Or, also known for her role in the Netflix television series “The Beauty Queen of Jerusalem.” “We wanted to expose how humor, beauty and happiness can co-exist with conflict and stress.”
Or’s castmates include Yehonatan Vilozny, Ofer Greenberg, Adam Gabay, (who appears in The HBO miniseries “Our Boys,” and appeared on Broadway in “The Band’s Visit), Mili Eshet (known for the Peacock miniseries “The Tattooist of Auschwitz”), Paula Kroh, Erez Oved, Lir Katz, Tamir Ginsburg. Guest appearance by Herzel Tobey
Cinematographer Ram Schweky has created a dreamy, painterly look for the film. Original music composed by Michael Cohen and Shuzin Sound blend vintage ‘70’s style with hip hop beats for a 1977 meets 2023 vibe, underscoring the timelessness of the story.
On the festival circuit, “Kissufim” has already won several awards including “Best Foreign Feature” and “Best Cinematography” at the Orlando Film Festival, and “Golden Aphrodite,” “Best Score” and “Best Editing” at the Cyprus Film Festival.
Credits:
Production by: Light Stream, Blanch Production
Producer: Micky Rabinovitz
Director: Keren Nechmad
Script: Yonatan Bar Ilan, Hadar Arazi, Keren Nechmad
Cinematography: Ram Shweky
Editing: Sahar Vizel
Original music: Michael Cohen, Shuzin Sound
Casting: Chamutal Zerem Castel
For more information, please visit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt17323516/