UK Premiere: Five Hours from Paris

Dir. Leonid Prudovsky I Israel 2009 I 90 mins I Hebrew and Russian with English subtitles

This mature, subtle, romantic drama captures the nuances of budding love, with all its excitement, uncertainty and promise.

 

Mild mannered taxi driver Yigal is stuck in a rut: living in an ordinary Tel Aviv suburb, with a mundane job and depressed by his failed marriage, he can’t even fulfil his dream of visiting Paris due to his fear of flying.

When he meets Lina, his son’s beautiful music teacher, Yigal’s zest for life is re-awakened. Even though Lina is married to a doctor and about to fly off to Canada to join him, her calm and intelligent demeanour hides her emotional turmoil. Drawn together by the same longing for a different life, the pair help each other to confront their doubts and fears head on.

With compelling performances by Dror Keren (Adam Resurrected and Aviva My Love) and Elena Yaralova, first time director Leon Prudovsky uses gentle humour to observe the subtleties of human relationships.

Best Film, Israeli Film Competition Award, Haifa International Film Festival 2009

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