SYNONYMS
Directed by Nadav Lapid
“ONE OF THE BEST MOVIES OF THE DECADE” — Indiewire
Opening in Coral Gables on Fri, Nov 22, Coral Gables Art Cinema
260 Aragon Avenue, Coral Gables
“Critic’s Pick! Furious, brilliant. A movie that turns rage into pain and identity into a howl.” – Manohla Dargis, The New York Times
“Wildly unpredictable. A searing, maddening, explosively brainy movie about the mutability and immutability of the self that, appropriately enough, never stops changing shape.” – Justin Chang, Los Angeles Times
“Astonishing. Fascinating, infuriating, frightening, lyrical and befuddling. Plus deadpan funny and frequently stunning as a bittersweet ode to contemporary France, one that’s suffused with New Wave verve.”
– Joe Morgenstern, The Wall Street Journal
2019 Berlinale Golden Bear Winner
WINNER: Golden Bear, Berlin International Film Festival
Official Selection: Toronto International and New York Film Festivals
NOMINATIONS: 4 Ophir Awards, including Best Actor for Tom Mercier
Languages: French, Hebrew, English
TRT: 123 min
Yoav, (Tom Mercier), a young Israeli man, has just moved to Paris with great expectations that France will save him from what he sees as the madness of his country. Things don’t get off to a great start as he discovers that the flat he’s supposed to stay in is unfurnished and completely empty, and, while taking a bath there, has his belongings stolen. Not deterred easily and desperate to erase his origins, he refuses to speak Hebrew, relying on a French dictionary as his constant companion, and to communicate with the various people he encounters. Based on the real life experiences of writer-director Nadav Lapid, SYNONYMS is a tragicomic puzzle about cultural identities and the challenges of putting down roots in a new place. Newcomer Tom Mercier gives a hypnotic performance as the deeply alienated Yoav whose attempts to find himself awaken past demons while opening up an existential abyss.