Frozen Days

Frozen Days is a fascinating film by first time Director/Writer Danny Lerner. It is an Israeli film seen by few here in America since its initial release years ago. Although it borrows from other films, it remains a unique experience, with a twist that you won't see coming- it will haunt you forever.

Beautiful Anat Klausner stars in her first film as a wondering MDMA drug dealer who works the empty streets of Tel Aviv every night. She is quite lonely living in solitude. One night, she connects with a man through a Chat App. After a brief meeting, they set up a date in a nightclub which also doubles as her workplace. She gets high on her own supply- and minutes later, a suicide bomber sets off an explosion killing and wounding many people. It is here that the film takes a very bizarre turn. It sends her into a world of paranoia and delusions, where previous events repeat themselves and her ability to distinguish between reality and fantasy come into question. Identities blur as a result of trauma. It visits the realm of films such as "The Tenant" "Jacob's Ladder", and "Carnival of Souls". You get the idea.

The film is shot with an obscure aspect ratio in video format consistent with film noir. There are many John Frankenheimer type claustrophobic images- where spatial proportions are affirmed and later averted adding ominous vibes that heighten our/her sense of dissociation. Although some dislike the ending, it works for me. We soon realize that part of what we see has come from the drug induced mind of one of the characters who experienced trauma. The soundtrack is sparse with piano keys that somehow work. The film is fascinating as it is disturbing- which leaves room for alternate interpretations. One might be some sort of Transgender nightmare, but that might be a reach

But there is more. The 5 years before this was filmed there were an incredible 131 suicide bombings that took place in Israel. These ubiquitous attacks created a climate where disassociation, loneliness, paranoia, and feelings of alienation were a collective norm rather than an aberration - thus the film can be seen as a metaphor for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. There are also some sociological aspects that are reflected that are indigenous.

In any event, try and see this film while you still can. It truly is a hidden gem.

A very unexpected combination of themes are played out in this carefully constructed Israeli noir trip. Right from the start it's clear we won't be pampered with the usual cookie-cut narratives and cinematic presentations of "normal" films. Rather, it takes you on a mysterious, gritty quest.

Mostly at night, the high contrast close-ups of our central girl are striking. Her performance is mesmerizing.

It's not without its flaws, and not all loose ends are tied the way we might want them to be. But the film has a more important goal. And as we follow her strange and disturbing search, we are forced to unravel clues before knowing even if there's a mystery to solve. When it becomes apparent there is indeed a mystery, we might feel the urge to jump to conclusions. Firm suspicions we may well have... but running along with her, feeling and knowing the heart wrenching realization that is about to unfold, is intense and moving.

Saw it on the Warsaw International Film Festival, having seen no Israeli films before and known nothing about what to expect. What I saw and felt reminded me much of Christopher Nolan's "Following" (both of these films are debuts) though the director denied it being any inspiration for him and put Brian De Palma and Roman Polanski's work instead. What got me most impressed was that the entire crew, including fantastic first-timer Anat Klausner, had no experience in making feature films before.

Meow is a lonely young girl who has a bad day. Her potential trip buyer turns out to be an annoying bloke who talks her into giving him an example of her stock and doesn't pay for it. The guy who recommended her to him doesn't want to let her in. Her motorbike gets stolen. And she's lonely. She finally gets to set up a date with the only man she feels like talking to - a chat-mate called Zero. The date ends up without her even seeing his face which however doesn't prevent her of kind of fall in love with him. But things go wrong. From then on the atmosphere gets more and more dense and dark. Meow takes up on Zero's life even against her own will and strange, Lynch-like things begin to happen.

The film is beautifully shot in B/W and I have to admit the only colour scene is striking, however unoriginal may the idea itself be. The cast can't be complained about, the highlight being mentioned Anat Klausner, who almost doesn't disappear from the screen. The film surely has it flaws - one can point a few plot holes or such, but those can be freely forgiven for the overall entertainment and atmosphere the film provides. A high-quality debut that deserves a ten.

Meow (Anat Klausner) is a young woman that wanders on the streets of Tel Aviv, dealing drugs in nightclubs to survive and spending the nights in empty apartments. When she meets Alex Kaplan (Pini Tavger) in a chat room, he schedules to meet her and she invites him to go to a nightclub. However, the place has a terrorist attack with a suicide bomber and Alex is seriously wounded, being hospitalized in coma. Meow moves to his apartment and gradually she assumes his identity. When Alex vanishes from the hospital, Meow discloses the escapism of her mind.

"Yamim Kfuim" is a fascinating and unforgettable movie that any fan of David Lynch will certainly worship. The promising director and writer Danny Lerner presents on his debut a stylish and intriguing low-budget movie shot in a magnificent black and white cinematography and with an awesome screenplay that uses the concept of "Jacob's Ladder" to end the story. In spite of that, the plot point is totally unexpected and I really loved this film. His work is supported by the gorgeous and sweet Anat Klausner, an unknown actress that has a stunning performance. I hope to have a chance to see his next work in a near future, and I can not understand how an actress with the potential of Anat Klausner has only this excellent movie in her filmography. My vote is nine.

Title (Brazil): "Identidade Roubada" ("Stolen Identity")