Synonyms (film)

Synonyms
Synonyms
	Film poster
Directed by	Nadav Lapid
Written by	Nadav Lapid; Haim Lapid;
Produced by	Saïd Ben Saïd; Michel Merkt;
Starring	Tom Mercier; Quentin Dolmaire; Louise Chevillotte;
Cinematography	Shai Goldman
Edited by	Neta Braun; Era Lapid; François Gédigier;
Production; companies	SBS Productions; Joana Henning (Estúdio Escarlate); Pie Films; Komplizen Film; Arte France Cinema; Israel Cinema Project; Rabinovich Foundation; The Israel Film Council; CNC; German Federal Film Board; Institut Français;
Distributed by	SBS Distribution; Grand Film; Estúdio Escarlate;
Release dates	13 February 2019 (Berlin); 28 February 2019 (Israel); 27 March 2019 (France); 5 September 2019 (Germany);
Running time	123 minutes
Countries	France; Israel; Germany;
Languages	French; Hebrew
Box office	$615,592

Synonyms (French: Synonymes) is a 2019 international co-produced drama film directed by Nadav Lapid, from a screenplay by Lapid and Haim Lapid. It stars Tom Mercier, Quentin Dolmaire and Louise Chevillotte. It had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February 2019, where it won the Golden Bear, and the FIPRESCI Award (Competition).^[2]^[3] It was released in Israel on 28 February 2019, in France on 27 March 2019, by SBS Distribution and in Germany on 5 September 2019, by Grand Film. The film received positive reviews from critics.

Plot

A young Israeli man absconds to Paris to flee his nationality.

Cast

Tom Mercier as Yoav
Quentin Dolmaire as Emile
Louise Chevillotte [fr] as Caroline
Uria Hayik as Yaron
Olivier Loustau [fr] as Michel
Léa Drucker as French Teacher

Release

The film had its world premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival on 13 February 2019.^[4] The film was released in Israel on 28 February 2019.^[5] It was released in France on 27 March 2019, by SBS Distribution.^[6] In May 2019, Kino Lorber acquired U.S. distribution rights to the film.^[7] It was released in Germany on 5 September 2019, by Grand Film.^[8]

The film also screened at the Toronto International Film Festival on 9 September 2019.^[9] and the New York Film Festival on 29 September 2019.^[10] It was released in the United States on 25 October 2019.^[11]

Critical reception

Synonyms received positive reviews from film critics. It holds an 88% approval rating on review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, based on 90 reviews, with an average of 7.3/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "Synonyms latches onto third-rail issues with thrilling audacity -- and taps into an energy that proves as discomfiting as it is infectious."^[12] On Metacritic, the film holds a rating of 84 out of 100, based on 21 critics, indicating "universal acclaim".^[13]

References

^ "Synonyms". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Berlin Film Festival 2019: Nadav Lapid's 'Synonyms' Wins Golden Bear". Variety. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.
^ "Prizes of the Independent Juries". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 15 February 2019.
^ "Selection for Competition and Berlinale Special Completed". berlinale. Retrieved 17 January 2019.
^ Steinberg, Jessica (18 February 2019). "Berlin film fest winner Nadav Lapid brings Golden Bear home". Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Synonyms". SBS Distribution. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ Frater, Patrick (16 May 2019). "Kino Lorber Nabs North American Rights to Berlin Winner 'Synonyms'". Variety. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Synonymes". Grand Film. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Synonyms". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (6 August 2019). "57th New York Film Festival Sets Full Slate; Pedro Almodovar, Bong Joon-ho Bring Their Cannes Prize Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ Trumbore, Dave (22 August 2019). "Official U.S. Trailer for 'Synonyms' Shows Off Nadav Lapid's Award-Winning Film". Collider. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
^ "Synonymes (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
^ "Synonyms". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

External links

Synonyms at IMDb
Synonymes in the Berlinale 2019 documentation

[1] "Synonyms". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[2] "Berlin Film Festival 2019: Nadav Lapid's 'Synonyms' Wins Golden Bear". Variety. 16 February 2019. Retrieved 17 February 2019.

[3] "Prizes of the Independent Juries". www.berlinale.de. Retrieved 15 February 2019.

[4] "Selection for Competition and Berlinale Special Completed". berlinale. Retrieved 17 January 2019.

[5] Steinberg, Jessica (18 February 2019). "Berlin film fest winner Nadav Lapid brings Golden Bear home". Times of Israel. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[6] "Synonyms". SBS Distribution. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[7] Frater, Patrick (16 May 2019). "Kino Lorber Nabs North American Rights to Berlin Winner 'Synonyms'". Variety. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[8] "Synonymes". Grand Film. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[9] "Synonyms". Toronto International Film Festival. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[10] Fleming, Mike Jr. (6 August 2019). "57th New York Film Festival Sets Full Slate; Pedro Almodovar, Bong Joon-ho Bring Their Cannes Prize Winners". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[11] Trumbore, Dave (22 August 2019). "Official U.S. Trailer for 'Synonyms' Shows Off Nadav Lapid's Award-Winning Film". Collider. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

[12] "Synonymes (2018)". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango. Retrieved 10 October 2021.

[13] "Synonyms". Metacritic. Retrieved 13 June 2020.

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