• View Trailer

    Past Life

    Directed by Avi Nesher
    Israel | 103 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Modern Masters

  • View Trailer

    Past Life

    Directed by Avi Nesher
    Israel | 103 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Modern Masters

  • View Trailer

    Past Life

    Directed by Avi Nesher
    Israel | 103 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Modern Masters

  • View Trailer

    Past Life

    Directed by Avi Nesher
    Israel | 103 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Modern Masters

  • View Trailer

    Past Life

    Directed by Avi Nesher
    Israel | 103 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Modern Masters

  • View Trailer

    Past Life

    Directed by Avi Nesher
    Israel | 103 minutes | U.S. Premiere | Modern Masters

In 1977 Jerusalem, two sisters, the daughters of Holocaust survivors, investigate a taboo topic: the mystery of their difficult father’s experiences in Poland during World War II. This profoundly moving drama confronts a burden of history that is still very much part of the Israeli present.

film synopsis

In 1977 Jerusalem, two sisters, the daughters of Holocaust survivors, investigate a taboo topic: the mystery of their difficult father's experiences in Poland during World War II. In what is arguably his best film yet, master director Nesher (The Matchmaker) confronts a trauma-the burden of history-that is still very much part of the Israeli present and deeply rooted in the collective subconscious.

Despite growing up in what their gynecologist father terms a normal world, neither Nana, a combative liberal journalist, nor younger sister Sephi, an aspiring classical composer with an angelic singing voice, feel that they had an easy or happy home life. When Sephi is accosted by a Polish woman in Berlin claiming that their father is a murderer, she is understandably disturbed and reluctantly tells Nana about it, but not her parents.

As the sisters desperately seek a path to forgiveness and peace for all concerned in their investigation, Nesher expertly builds suspense while echoing and reinforcing their quest with the film's hauntingly beautiful musical choices.

film details

Director: Avi Nesher
Producers: David M. Milch, David Silber, Moshe Edery, Leon Edery, Avi Nesher, Ruth Cats
Screenwriter: Avi Nesher
Cinematographers: Michel Abramowicz
Editor: Isaac Sehayek
Music: Cyrille Aufort
Cast: Nelly Tagar, Joy Rieger, Doron Tavory,Rafael Stachowiak, Katarzyna Gniewkowska
Original Language Title: Hachataim
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew
Year: 2016
Running Time: 103 minutes
Premiere Status: U.S. Premiere

guests in attendance

Avi Nesher – Director

2017 PS Film Festival