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Avi Nesher

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Avi Nesher
Born (1953-12-13) 13 December 1953 (age 70)
Ramat Gan, Israel
Occupation(s)Film producer, film director, screenwriter
Years active1979–present

Avi Nesher (Hebrew: אבי נשר; born 13 December 1953) is an Israeli film producer, film director, screenwriter and actor.[1]

Biography

Avi Nesher was born and raised in Ramat Gan, Israel. The child of a Romanian-born diplomat, and a mother who came from Russia.[2] In 1965, he moved with his family to the United States. He graduated high school at sixteen and studied international relations at Columbia University. In 1971, he returned to Israel and served in the IDF elite special forces unit Sayeret Matkal.

Film career

In 1978, Nesher directed and produced his first film, HaLahaka (Hebrew: "הלהקה", lit. The Band), which depicted an army entertainment troupe similar to the Nahal troupe (להקת הנח"ל). The film stars many of the leading actors and singers of that era, including Gidi Gov, Gali Atari, Sassi Keshet and Heli Goldenberg, most of whom served in military entertainment troupes themselves. The film was a commercial success in Israel (600,000 viewers) and gained cult film status. The movie production, accompanied by the composer Yair Rosenblum, who was musical director of the Nahal Military Group and composed the songs the band also appear in the film.

In 1979, Nesher directed his second film, Dizengoff 99, about three young friends (Anat Atzmon, Gidi Gov and Meir Suissa) living together in a flat on Dizengoff Street, the center of nightlife in Tel Aviv. The film is based on the experiences of Nesher himself, when he lived with two friends in Tel Aviv. The soundtrack of the film included songs performed by Zvika Pick, Riki Gal, Gali Atari and various Israeli bands. It was also a hit (400,000 viewers) and achieved cult film status in Israel. In 1980 Nesher directed HaPakhdanim (Hebrew: "הפחדנים", lit. The Cowards), a moderate commercial success (120,000 viewers).

Nesher then moved to Hollywood to further his film career, directing the Israeli-American fantasy film She in 1982, about two brothers trying to save their kidnapped sister.

In 1984, Nesher wrote, directed and produced the movie Rage & Glory which tells the story of the underground Zionist group Lehi and their struggle against the British Mandate in the 1940s. The film stars Juliano Mer, Hana Azoulay-Hasfari, and Roni Finkovitz. The movie caused a political storm, was lauded by international critics and in 2001 was selected by the Lincoln Center Film Society as one of the most important films in fifty years of Israeli cinema.

In 1985, Nesher produced Shovrim, about a group of youngsters making a Rock opera parody film of the biblical story of David and Goliath.

After seeing Rage & Glory, producer Dino De Laurentis convinced Nesher to come to Hollywood. Consequently, Nesher wrote and directed the sci-fi mystery Timebomb for MGM (produced by Rafaella De Laurentiis) and starring Michael Biehn. In 1993 he directed Doppelganger for 20th Century Fox, starring Drew Barrymore. Both films won prizes at the Avoriaz Science Fiction and Fantasy Festival in France.

In 1998, Nesher wrote, produced and directed the independent feature The Taxman the story of tax investigator Al Benjamin (played by Joe Pantoliano) who stumbles over a series of bloody murders and gets involved in an investigation with a rookie cop. The New York Times called the film "A delight...a charmer of a mystery" and Jeffrey Lyons of NBC called it "A cinematic gem...Not to be missed!"

In 2001, he directed the horror film Ritual starring Jennifer Grey and Tim Curry.

In 2004, Nesher directed, produced and wrote Turn Left at the End of the World, a film about a small town in the Negev during the 1960s and the struggle of the Moroccan and Indian Jews who live there. The film starred Neta Garty, Liraz Cherki, and Ruby Porat Shoval. The movie was nominated for 8 Israeli Academy awards and won three.

In 2005, Nesher directed the experimental political documentary Oriental about the Camp David Accords and won the "Spirit of Freedom" award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. It was described as "brilliant and original" by the Jerusalem Post, which called Nesher "Israel's most innovative filmmaker."

In 2007, Nesher’s Hasodot premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. Reviewers wrote that it was “witty and wise, sensual and emotionally overpowering." “The Secrets” was shown at more than 50 international film festivals. American film critic Andrew Sarris called it “one of the best movies of the year.”

In 2010 Nesher wrote, directed and produced The Matchmaker. Inspired by Amir Gutfreund’s novel When Heroes Fly, the film is set in Haifa in 1968. It tells the story of an Israeli teenager who gets a summer job working for a Holocaust survivor who runs a matchmaking service. The Matchmaker premiered at the 2010 Toronto Film Festival and later that year won the Silver Plaque award at the Chicago International Film Festival. When it opened in U.S. theaters Los Angeles Times film critic, Kenneth Turan hailed it as "beautiful and honest."

In 2013, Nesher's film The Wonders was praised by film critic Yair Raveh (Cinemascope) who called it the best Israeli movie of the year. It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and was selected as one of five exceptional films featured in the Contemporary World Speakers program. Variety film critic Alissa Simon hailed it a "smart, stylish, and sophisticated dramedy."[3]

Awards and recognition

In 2008, Nesher received the Extraordinary Achievement Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. In 2009 he won the Cinematic Excellence Award at the Haifa Film Festival and was accorded a star on "The Avenue of the Stars" - an honor rarely bestowed on directors. In 2010 Nesher received the Landau Award for Excellence in the Arts.

  • Director award, Avoriaz Fantastic Film Festival 1992
  • Director award, Taromina Film Festival 2004
  • Spirit of Freedom award, Jerusalem Film Festival 2005
  • Best screenplay, Jackson Hole Film Festival 2007
  • Lifetime achievement award, Israeli Film Festival 2007
  • Lifetime achievement award, Washington Jewish Film Festival 2010
  • Landau award for cinematic excellence 2010

Filmography

References

  1. ^ "News in Brief". Haaretz Daily Newspaper. Archived from the original on 28 October 2010. Retrieved 4 October 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  2. ^ Nick Johnstone (30 October 2008). "The secret passions of frum young women". The Jewish Chronicle. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
  3. ^ The Wonders: Review

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