Sold Out.
 
Screening Thurs. Feb. 25.
 
U.S. theatrical premiere!
 
Nominated for 9 Ophir Awards (the Israeli Oscars) including Best Film
 
Winner Best Actress (Assi Levi) at the Jerusalem Film Festival
 
WEDDING DOLL is set in a small town in southern Israel’s Negev desert.   The warmth and intense light of the striking desert landscapes seem to match the eternally sunny disposition of Hagit, a young woman with a mental disability who works in a toilet-paper factory.  She lives with her mother Sarah, a divorcée who is torn between her desire to protect Hagit and Hagit’s desire for independence and a relationship with the son of the factory owner.
 
“ This grounded story of social alienation is getting the recognition it deserves for being accessible without patronizing.   It also manages to tackle a rather thorny subject — the sexuality and independence of a mentally handicapped woman — without resorting either to platitudes or sweeping idealism. ” – Robert Bell, Exclaim!
 
“Nitzan Giladi’s fantastic debut feature is the second Israeli film in as many years to focus on the difficult relationship between a young woman with a mental disability and the family member living with and caring for her.   [WEDDING DOLL is] about the quest for independence.  Of course, that is difficult in modern society when learning difficulties of any kind still come laden with all manner of stigma.  “Weirdo!” is the cry of a young boy as Hagit (Moran Rosenblatt) revels in the sunrise.” – Ben Nicholson, Cinevue
 
“ WEDDING DOLL heralds the arrival of a fairly major new acting talent.” – David Nusair, Reel Film
 
Language: Hebrew (English subtitles)
 
Length: 1 hr. 30 min.