Girl, Woman
Synopsis
At the age of 30, Ella receives a mysterious suitcase filled with home videos from the 1990s, tapes kept secret until today. They reveal the unguarded life of her mother, the once-iconic singer Dafna Armoni. Through this raw archival footage, Ella discovers that behind her mother’s public persona lies a deeply personal and painful history. For the first time, she uncovers the identity of her father, an elusive figure shadowed by rumors. As the past bleeds into the present, the film becomes a poetic portrait of two women merging into one: the legendary star and the rising filmmaker.
Credits
Director(s)
Ella Armony
Producer(s)
Donna and Shula studios
Script
Ella Armony
Cinematography
Ella Armony
Editor
Noit Geva
Cast
Dafna Armony
Produced with the help of
HOT 8, The New Fund for Cinema and Television (NFCT), Mifal Ha'Pais, Gesher Film Fund, Ministry of Culture and Sports, The Israeli Film Council
Broadcaster
HOT 8
Sound Designer
Aviv Aldema
Sound Editing
Dolev Rafaeli
Sound Studios
DB Studios - Gil Toren, Ronit Shalevy, Moshiko Moshe
Image Design
Aharon Peer
Online Editing Studio
RGB Post Production
Graphics and Introduction
Udi Goldstein
Additional Photography
Dafna Armony, David Be'er, Elia Melamed, Artyom Dubitzky, Alon Armony
Festival Highlights
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WINNER
Best DirectorDocaviv Film Festival2025 -
WINNER
Best EditingDocaviv Film Festival2025
Docaviv Film Festival, Israel, Official Competition, 2025
Reviews
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"A beatiful, touching portrait."
- Mako
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"With a confident hand, and unapologetic approach the filmmaker leads the audience into the complex entanglement of her past.On the surface, the film appears to be a journey to uncover a family secret, but it transcends this frame and evolves into a meaningful, expressive piece about mother-daughter relationships, fame and downfall, truth and deception.The mother’s character is built by the daughter with piercing honesty and deep compassion, in a process that gives rise to unforgettable scenes of Israeli gothic we never knew existed."
- Jury Justification for Best Director Award, Docaviv Film Festival 2025
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"The editing in this film distills its turbulent, complex story through a series of precise and restrained decisions, while remaining faithful to its emotional depth.With a loving and compassionate touch, the editor reveals the intricacies of the characters' relationships, weaving between past and present, revealing and concealing with care."
- Jury Justification for Best Editing Award, Docaviv Film Festival 2025
