Good Morning Son
Synopsis
A young IDF soldier critically injured during a Gaza military operation, clings to life while his family maintains a bedside vigil, in the sensitive Israeli drama. Sharon Bar-Ziv writes, directs and stars in this intimate chamber ensemble, playing anxious father David whose son Ori lies comatose in a hospital bed, hovering between life and death. David and his wife Naomi (Keren Mor) rarely leave Ori’s side, speaking softly to him, praying and watching for any sign of improvement. During the long wait, family, friends, doctors and therapists struggle to temper expectations and cope with the strain of the situation that sees moments of heartbreak, humor and hope. This beautifully rendered story of human resilience offers insight into the ordeal faced by military families in Israel and throughout the world. (courtesy of Atlanta JFF)
Credits
Director(s)
Sharon Bar-Ziv
Producer(s)
Jonathan Rozenbaum, Michael Rozenbaum, Marek Rozenbaum
Script
Sharon Bar-Ziv
Cinematography
Ziv Berkovich
Editor
Evelyne Kaplun
Cast
Keren Mor, Sharon Bar-Ziv, Aviv Elkabeth
Original Language
Hebrew
Subtitles
English, French
Festival Highlights
The Grail Moviehouse, USA, 2020
Macedonia Israeli Film Festival, North Macedonia, 2020
Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2020
Toronto Jewish Film Festival, Canada, 2019
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2019
Boston Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2019
UK Jewish Film Festival, UK, 2019
Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2019
Nancy Israeli Film Festival, France, 2019
Chicago Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2019
Festival du Cinéma Israélien de Paris, France, 2019
SERET Film Festivals, UK, Germany, Holland, 2019
Carpentras Jewish Film Festival, France, 2019
LA Israeli Film Festival, USA, 2019
Reviews
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Bar Ziv’s purposeful evasion of discussing the reasons for the soldier’s injuries, turns the film into apolitical and direct film. Meir Schnitzer, Maariv
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The talented Bar Ziv succeeds in inserting a positive Israeli spirit in his accurate texts and immense humane sensitivity, no less so than in Nanni Moretti’s films, in whose steps Bar Ziv seems to be following. Gidi Orsher, a solid TV and Radio film critic
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A collection of intimate moments, directed and acted with accuracy, shifting from the emotional to the humorous and the absurd. Not one of these moments tries to take us beyond the quiet banality of pain and hope. Like in his former film, Room 514, here too the restricted and dense space becomes a central character, an emotional ground, stressing the isolation of the parents from the outside world, and the loss of the sense of time passing by.
Dr Shmulik Duvdevani, Ynet
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A clever and elegant film about the resilience of of life. Well written and directed in the right tempo . A sober and accurate performance by Sharon Bar Ziv and Keren Mor. Uri Klein, Haaretz.
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The ensemble cast, in which every actor is excellent in their own right, contributes to the intensity and authenticity of the film. Sharon Bar Ziv himself in the role of the father is constantly shifting in the emotional scale stretching between worry and bitter smiles, while trying to maintain his sanity and routine. Gidi Orsher, a solid TV and Radio film critic
