The Holiness
Synopsis
Vered (Noa Koler) and Avihai (Assi Cohen), a religious Jewish couple, secretly indulge in a secular lifestyle behind closed doors. They meticulously maintain their double life, upholding traditions in public while embracing forbidden pleasures in private. But their carefully constructed world shatters when their teenage daughter unexpectedly walks in on them watching TV on Shabbat – the holiest night in Judaism.
The shocking discovery forces them to confront not only their daughter’s reaction but also their own fears, desires, and the fragile balance they’ve struggled to maintain. As the weight of secrecy threatens to crush them, they must decide what – if anything – is worth saving.
Credits
Director(s)
Daniel Moreshet
Producer(s)
Harel Ben Melech
Script
Daniel Moreshet
Cinematography
Omer Lotan
Editor
Shai Blanc-Mashiach
Original Music
Gal Lev
Cast
Noa Koler, Assi Cohen, Amir Tessler, Yarden Arish, Lavi Langbord
Original Language
Hebrew
Subtitles
English, Hebrew
Sound Designer
Aviv Aldema
Produced with the help of
Gesher – Multicultural Film Foundation, the Israeli Film Council.
Festival Highlights
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WINNER
Special MentionTel Aviv International Student Film Festival2025
Haifa International Film Fesrival, Israel, Shorts Competition, 2025
Atlanta Jewish Film Festival, USA, Shorts Competition, 2025
Washington Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2025
Tel Aviv International Student Festival, Israel, Official Selection, 2025
Cleveland Jewish Film Festival, USA, Official Selection, 2025
Reviews
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"Expertly crafted and full of humor, truth, and stellar writing and acting, this debut film showcases impressive skill in packaging the Israeli narrative of a journey to find identity, the act of pretense, and the generational gaps. This is a very Israeli film, yet it is also universal in its intimacy, its domesticity, the helplessness of its characters, and its desire to break from authority and venture out into the world. "
- TISFF 2025 Jury Motivation
