Bliss

East Coast Premiere

A married couple must confront painful truths in this insightful, touching drama from Shemi Zarhin (MJFF 2016 film The Kind Words), one of Israel’s most renowned novelists and filmmakers. In Bliss, Israeli screen legend Sasson Gabay (from MJFF films Karaoke and My Daughter My Love) stars as Sassi, a man dealing with the challenges of aging and impotence, while his wife Effi (Assi Levy) cherishes their emotional bond despite his struggles. As a physical therapist, Effi understands the deep link between body and heart, but their relationship is tested by the arrival of their directionless teenage grandson and a young patient from Effi’s past who rekindles new conflicts.

Receiving its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival, Zarhin's acclaimed film is rich in insight and humor, delicately exploring the complexities of love and discord, with Gabay and Levi’s enduring chemistry adding depth to this touching drama since they were first seen on screen together in Zarhin’s award-winning film Aviva My Love. Through a prism of bliss, Zarhin brilliantly reveals the intricate motivations and contradictions of his characters, painting a vivid and heartfelt portrait of their intertwined lives where the idea of bliss itself becomes a prism, reflecting each character in a whole range of colors.