New on ChaiFlicks: Israeli Series The Lesson, Michael Aloni's Plan A and more
From Israel’s Best Drama Series award-winner to movies starring familiar faces like Michael Aloni and Natalie Portman, there’s a lot to watch out for on ChaiFlicks as spring turns into summer. Read the full entries for notable ChaiFlicks additions or scroll all the way down for the full content schedule.
The Lesson
Starring Doron Ben David (Fauda) and Maya Landsman (Dismissed), The Lesson is one of Israel’s most decorated TV series of recent years.
The series won the Best Series award at the prestigious Cannes Series 2022 festival, with lead actress Landsman earning Best Actress honors. The series also won the Best Drama Series award at the TV Series Festival Berlin, with both Ben David and Landsman also winning the Best Performance categories. The Lesson beat out the likes of Fauda and Tehran for the Best Drama Series and Best Drama Screenplay awards, while Landsman received the Best Drama Actress honors at the Israeli TV Academy Awards.
The premise of the series traces a classroom argument between a high school civics teacher (Ben David) and his student (Landsman) which quickly spirals out of control and puts the two protagonists — and later the whole country — on a collision course. The ripple effects from their dispute reveal the many fault lines dividing modern society.
Watch the trailer for The Lesson above before the series starts streaming exclusively on ChaiFlicks on June 21.
Plan A
Michael Aloni (Shtisel, Beauty Queen of Jerusalem), August Diehl (A Hidden Life, Inglourious Basterds) and Sylvia Hoeks (Blade Runner 2049) star in the thrilling English-language drama Plan A, based on the incredible true story of the Jewish "Avengers“ - a group of Jewish vigilantes, men and women, who after surviving the Holocaust vow to avenge the death of their people – "an eye for any eye, a tooth for a tooth.“
Based on Yad Vashem chief historian Prof. Dina Porat's book titled Nakam, the film brings to light an overlooked part of post-WWII history — that of the survivors who wished to fight back. The story of this group of vigilantes has been lost to history for over seventy years due to the many interlocking dynamics of the post-WWII, which included survivors' trauma and new political forces coming to the fore around the world. The team behind this film, which worked together with Dr. Porat, unearthes this hidden plot in stunning fashion.
Directed by renowned Israeli directors Doron and Yoav Paz (Jeruzalem, The Golem), Plan A dives deep into the troubled post-WWII world to ask questions about guilt, vengeance and perseverance.
Stream Plan A on ChaiFlicks.
Free Zone
ChaiFlicks is kicking off its introspective of renowned Israeli director Amos Gitai's career with the Natalie Portman led, Cannes Festival feature Free Zone. The film brings together three powerful performances from its trio of wonderful actress which includes Portman, Israeli actress Hanah Laslow — who won the Cannes Festival Best Actress award for this role — and Hiam Abbass.
In Free Zone, Rebecca (Natalie Portman), an American who has been living in Jerusalem for a few months now, has just broken off her engagement. She gets into a cab driven by Hanna (Hanna Laslo), an Israeli. But Hanna is on her way to Jordan, to the Free Zone, to pick up a large sum of money that "the American", her husband's partner, owes them. Rebecca persuades Hanna to take her along. When they reach the Free Zone, Leila (Hiam Abbass), a Palestinian, explains that the American isn't there and that the money has vanished.
Stream Free Zone on ChaiFlicks
Less Than Kosher
Less Than Kosher is a fresh new series coming to ChaiFlicks straight off the press from Canada. Think “Shiva Baby” meets “A Star is Born.” Modern Jewish wit and Hebrew Electro-Pop. And if that doesn't sound good to you, we don't know what will!
At 20, Viv was a promising young singer. At 30, her failing music career has forced her back into her mother's basement. But when this self proclaimed Bad Jew lands ass-backwards into a job as a Cantor at her family's synagogue, she’s thrown into a wild ride of illicit affairs, drug trips, tense family drama, self discovery and some serious Jewish bops.
Less Than Kosher will be streaming on ChaiFlicks June 12, in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand.
More May/June ChaiFlicks Releases
Famous Nathan - May 11
In Between - May 13
Shai K. - May 16
Labyrinth of Peace - Series Finale - May 17
Kishon - May 20
Here and There - May 23
Free Zone - May 24
UNraveling - May 25
Bye Bye Germany - May 27
Golden Boys - June 3
Amos Gitai Retrospective: Kadosh, Kedma, West of the Jordan River, Kippur - June 1-18
The Lesson - June 18
More additions TBD
