The Monkey House

Israel  2023 | Director: Avi Nesher | Hebrew & Italian with English subtitles | 128 minutes

Comedy/Drama 

Nominated for 11 Israeli Academy Awards, this heartwarming comedy/drama from acclaimed Israeli director Avi Nesher (Turn Left at the End of the World, The Secrets, The Matchmaker, The Other Story) is a “delightful, sophisticated mixture of a literary mystery, a witty comedy and a moving character study of two lost souls who make a connection” (Jerusalem Post). Set in the late 1980’s, the film follows Amitay Kariv, a novelist whose popularity peaked in the 1960s, only to wane in the decades that followed. Blaming current cultural politics for his lack of success, he decides to fight for what he feels is his rightful place in the Israeli literary canon, and hatches a clever, but scandalous, scheme to mount a career comeback.  But to complete his plan he needs an accomplice, someone who is a literary researcher – or can convincingly pretend to be one. When a young woman named Margo takes on his mysterious job offer, their fateful encounter will change both their lives forever.  

Nominated: 11 Israeli Academy Awards including Best Director, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress