The Cakemaker

Well, if I was interested in seeing a remake of the " Le fate ignoranti (2001)", I would search for an original one... Sorry guys!!!

This first feature from Israeli director Ofir Raul Graizer has been picking up prizes around the world. It's easy to see why. The story of a young German pastry chef who makes a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and inveigles his way into the life of his male lover's widow without revealing his identity is beautifully told and although tragic ultimately satisfying. At the London Film Festival, where the film was nominated for the Sutherland prize, Graizer revealed that he developed the story from one he'd heard. Each scene is simply but expertly shot and the overall effect is profoundly moving. The Israeli cast, particularly Sarah Adler as the widow, is as good as we've come to expect from this country's actors; but Tim Kalkhof as the boy - quiet melancholy masking a huge depth of emotion - is superb. An award for this role must be on the cards.The couple's sex scene in a kitchen, covered in only two takes, is electrifying. Along the way Graizer also deals with the mysteries of kosher rituals, while the food preparation becomes almost hypnotic. One expects the impossible situation that develops to be unresolvable and for the film to stop abruptly. But there is a suggestion of a happy ending. The characters are so well drawn that this is a film that will stay with you long after the final fade.

Tim Kalkhof is such a great actor. Just by looking at his look and the expression on his face you can understand his deep feelings. Excellent movie.

The Cakemaker is melodrama fodder. A married man, a young son, a gay affair, death, deceit, revelation - the setup has all the trappings of a trite lifetime movie. It's not though, far from it. Instead, it's one of the quietest and most delicate films I've seen this year. It trades dramatic fireworks for quiet rumination, diving deep into the psychology of grief rather than indulging in scandal. The performances are beautifully restrained, the dramatic weight carried on the slightest of expressions. Character motivations are left largely unarticulated, challenging the viewer to empathize and draw their own conclusions as to their thoughts and feelings. The languid pacing may be patience-testing for some, but I found myself comforted and calmed by the stillness of the film. The drama is quite layered as well with cultural, social, and religious themes impressing upon the core triangular relationship. Perhaps what I admire most about the film though is the broad, non-judgmental way in which it depicts love and loss, unbound by social and cultural divides. A beautiful, honest, and melancholic piece.

Strong 4/5

A magnificent film. for the precise manner to build the emotions. for the art of detail. for impeccable performances. for gestures, silence and the breath of words. a film mixing in splendid manner the grace, the sensitivity, the clash of civilisations and the love stories. a graceful film. like the taste of a slice of Black Forest cake or the taste of cinnamon cookies. for me it was a revelation. because it is more than a good/beautiful film. it is more than a complex and almost mystic love story. it is more than a masterpiece. it is exactly the film who you need it.Sarah Adler , givind the salted gestures, words and emotions of her character. Tim Kalkhof creating a character of Romanticism in pure sense. the cooking becoming sensual and magic. all being absolutely perfect. delicate. convincing. and the package for the best gift. short, a graceful film.