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Golda

Berlinale Special Gala 2023
© Jasper Wolf
The “fog of war” evoked by Prussian general von Clausewitz and referenced in the title of the well-known documentary about ex-US Secretary of State Robert McNamara, becomes the “smoke of war” in this meticulous reconstruction of the Yom Kippur War in October 1973 from the perspective of Golda Meir, Israel’s fourth prime minister and the first woman to hold the post, Labour party member and chain smoker. Smoke envelops her constantly, seemingly bringing the acrid smell of the off-screen battle between the Israeli, Egyptian and Syrian forces straight into the offices and war room where Meir discusses and directs military strategy; and into the enquiry commission where she would account for decisions that led to victory but wounded or cost the lives of thousands.
An almost unrecognisable Helen Mirren brings to life one of the most iconic and influential political leaders of the twentieth century, previously played by Ingrid Bergman on TV and Anne Bancroft on stage. Meir was a woman at the centre of a dramatic geopolitical episode, in a potentially fatal moment for her country, surrounded by men: her generals Dayan, Elazar and Sharon, and Henry Kissinger in a decisive scene of high diplomacy.
by Guy Nattiv
with Helen Mirren, Liev Schreiber, Camille Cottin, Ellie Piercy, Rami Heuberger, Lior Ashkenazi, Rotem Keinan, Dvir Benedek, Dominic Mafham, Ed Stoppard United Kingdom 2022 English, Hebrew 100’ Colour

With

  • Helen Mirren (Golda Meir)
  • Liev Schreiber (Henry Kissinger)
  • Camille Cottin (Lou Kaddar)
  • Ellie Piercy (Shir Sapiro)
  • Rami Heuberger (Moshe Dayan)
  • Lior Ashkenazi (David “Dado” Elazar)
  • Rotem Keinan (Zvi Zamir)
  • Dvir Benedek (Eli Zeria)
  • Dominic Mafham (Haim Bar Lev)
  • Ed Stoppard (Benny Peled)

Crew

Director Guy Nattiv
Screenplay Nicholas Martin
Cinematography Jasper Wolf
Editing Arak Lahav-Leibovich
Music Dascha Dauenhauer
Sound Design Niv Adiri
Sound Tom Sayers
Production Design Arad Sawat
Costumes Sinead Kidao
Make-Up Karen Hartley Thomas
Assistant Director Steve Robinson
Casting Alex Johnson
Production Manager Alex Molden
Producers Michael Kuhn, Nicholas Martin, Jane Hooks
Co-Producer Gavin Glendenning
Co-Production Qwerty Films London

World sales

Embankment Films

http://www.embankmentfilms.com http://www.embankmentfilms.com

Produced by

Qwerty Films

Perfume Films

Photos

Press Conference

Red Carpet

Guy Nattiv

© Theo & Juliet

Born in Tel Aviv, Israel in 1973, he studied at the film and television department of the Camera Obscura School of Art in the same city. As a director he made short films and commercials for international companies for over ten years. His short film Mabul (The Flood) screened at the 2002 Berlinale where it won a Crystal Bear. From this work he developed a feature film of the same name which also screened in the Generation section. In 2004, Panorama presented his short film Strangers (with Erez Tadmor). His short film by the name of Skin has been nominated for an Oscar; his full-length film Skin is the first feature film he has made in the USA.

Filmography

2002 Mabul (The Flood); short film · Mabul (The Flood); short film 2003 Strangers; short film, co-director: Erez Tadmor · Strangers; short film, co-director: Erez Tadmor 2006 Offside; short film, co-director: Erez Tadmor · Offside; short film, co-director: Erez Tadmor 2007 Strangers; co-director: Erez Tadmor · Strangers; co-director: Erez Tadmor 2010 Mabul (The Flood) · Mabul 2014 Magic Men; co-director: Erez Tadmor · Magic Men; co-director: Erez Tadmor · Dear God · Dear God; short film 2018 Skin; short film · Skin; short film 2019 Skin 2021 Life, Unexpected; short film 2023 Golda

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2023