Saturday, January 15 at 8:00pm
Michael-Ann Russell JCC, Outdoor Plaza
Israel | 90 minutes | 2021
Greener Pastures
US Premiere
A retired widower is forced to reexamine his past and embrace his future in this superbly acted comedy that was nominated for 12 Israeli Ophir Awards, including for Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Actor. Boasting a dynamic visual sense, snappy dialogue, and a dream cast of talent, including icons of Israeli comedy like Shlomo Bar-Aba (Academy Award-nominee Footnote and MJFF 2016 film Hill Start) and Doval'e Glickman (International award-winning show Shtisel and MJFF 2020 film Shoelaces), Greener Pastures is a wryly comic story about life, moving on and finding redemption. Dov, a widower who begrudgingly resides in a nursing home, dreams of buying back his old house where he raised his family. Since his pension fell through, Dov’s finances are thin which he entirely blames on the bureaucracy of the state. One day, to his surprise he finds out that almost all the residents in the nursing home partake of medical marijuana to help with their aches and pains. Inspired by this realization, he gets a wild idea that he thinks will solve all his problems — what if he sells marijuana to the residents himself? In this way, he would be able to save up money, leave the nursing home once and for all, and finally buy back his home! His business soon takes off beyond his wildest dreams, becoming so successful that it draws the unfortunate interest of both the police and a local street gang. Soon Dov finds himself at a crossroads where he must decide whether he is willing to risk everything he has for what really matters most to him. Irresistible, funny, and full of hilarious moments that will leave you laughing well into the next scene, Greener Pastures proves that young and old alike can find something to cherish in this charming story.Sponsors
The Scheck & Bonwitt Families
Awards
Nominated for 12 Israeli Academy Awards (Ophirs)
Director's Bio
Assaf Abiri graduated from Tel Aviv University's Tisch School of Film and Television, and co-developed the popular TV series Have My Child. Matan Guggenheim is an Israeli filmmaker who directed several award-winning short films before his feature film debut, Paradise Cruise (2013).