The Cemetery Club

Name: The Cemetery Club
Director: Tali Shemesh
Released: 2006

Tali Shemesh 2006

For over two decades, a group of women and men have been meeting weekly at Israel’s National Cemetery to debate philosophy, read poetry, eat lunch and determine the fate of the Jewish nation.
Director Tali Shemesh focuses on two of the group’s members: her grandmother, and her great aunt Lena, their life choices and their relationship. A poignant, intimate, sometimes hilarious portrait of the Holocaust generation.

Add to Playlist

Add Bookmark

Bookmark List

Play Trailer

Running Time:

90/70 min.

Spoken Languages:

Hebrew, Polish

Subtitles:

English

Directors:

Tali Shemesh

Producers:

Assaf Amir

Cinematographers:

Sharon De-Mayo

Editors:

Aliza Esquira

Press

"The Cemetery Club is one of the most powerful and multi-layered documentaries I have seen in recent months. It has elements of tragedy and comedy, of rich fiction and poignant political satire. I enjoyed the fine artistic logic that Tali Shemesh employs to highlight the relationship between the two women on the background of their advancing age, their loneliness, and their mutual thirst for human contact. It is a magnificent film."

Amos Oz
Kol Israel Reveiw

(Excellent) "Celebration of life. Sensitive, clever, funny, and above all – compassionate. Excellent".

Haim Keinan,
Time Out Review

(Very Good) "Captivating, Funny and moving.,. made with plenty of talent. A must see!"

Yael Shuv
Ha'aretz Newspaper,

"The Cemetery Club is the most successful Israeli Documentary ever!"
Cinemascope Reveiw

(Very Good) "A beautiful film with precious moments"

Yair Rave
Seret

(Very Good) "Heartbreaking. One of the most moving documentaries I've seen"

Yair Hochner
Rating

(Highly Recommended)
"An excellent and touching story."

Dvorit Sargal
London & Kirshenbaum

"A fantastic relationship. Fellini-style scenes. Recommended!"

Channel 10
The Golden Dove Award for Best Documentary

"Despite the title the filmmaker has created a playful and witty film with many layers. And a strong main character whose dramatic life-story is treated with subtitle balance between humor and drama. It is a wonderful piece of filmmaking with careful editing and rich in detail."

Dok-Liepzig Jury,
Doc-Aviv – Opening Night. Winner of "The Mayor of Tel-Aviv Award for Promising Filmmaker"

"The Cemetery Club is a touching and multi-faceted documentary that overlays with humor the dignity and profound intelligence of this eccentric group of survivors.”

The jury
Winner of "The Best Photography Award"

"The [photography] highlights unique moments which can only be expressed in cinematic language. The film creates a dialogue between history and the present by capturing subtle moments reflected in the lovely old faces."

The jury
Best Asian Documentary – The 12th Shanghai TV Festival,

The Magnolia Award for :
The prize for the best Asian documentary goes to The Cemetery Club- a lovely, philosophically rich film on the final chapter of life: the senior years. A diminishing circle of friends convenes a regular social gathering to combat loneliness with the effective antidote of community. The tough-as-nail character Lena takes center stage in this powerful and touching tale that inter-mingles reflections on life and death, past and present, friends and family.

The jury

Festival Participation

- 2006
The European Film Academy Nomination for Best Documentary
Doc Aviv - 2006
The Mayor of Tel-Aviv Award, The Photography Award
Hot Docs,Official Competition - 2006
Shanghai International TV Festival - 2006
Magnolia Award for Best Asian Documentary
Women's Film Festival Rehovot - 2006
The Best Film
Cannes Int'l Film Festival, Tout le Cinema Du Monde - 2006
Dok Leipzig - 2006
The Golden Dove Award for Best Documentary
Best of Fests, IDFA 2006 - 2006
One World Film Festival, Prague - 2006
Warsaw International Film Festival - 2006
Bergen International Film Festival - 2006
Sarajevo Film Festival, Special Panorama Screening - 2006
1 of 10 Public Awards
Miami International Film Festival, Official Competition - 2007

Additional Materials

Film Poster

Distribution Company

Back to Film Summary

Interview With Tali Shemesh
Interview with Tali Shemesh (1)

Back to Film Summary

This Week’s Featured Films

An investigative journalist uncovers the money, influence, and alarming rationale behind covert efforts to control the most vital resource on the planet in the latest exposé from filmmaker Gabriela Cowperthwaite (Blackfish)
The road to eliminating poverty begins with her
Israel's military service is questioned through the experiences of young Israelis struggling with enlistment pressures. Innocence uncovers the personal cost of conforming, with lost lives and haunting diaries illustrating the impact of military duty on young souls.
BUTTERFLY IN THE SKY tells the story of the beloved PBS children’s series “Reading Rainbow,” its iconic host LeVar Burton, and the challenges its creators faced in cultivating a love of reading through television.
How did we come to this moment, where free speech issues have never felt more complicated and urgent, and where the nation is wondering a new: what price are we willing to pay for free speech?
Let us tell you a story about the boundary pushers who shape souls and give children strange dreams. The stars of STORY & PICTURES BY are picture book creators changing the narrative for the next generation, even when their own lives are not fairytales.
A political thriller that that goes inside the U.S. fundamentalist Evangelicals, revealing their power and influence on U.S. foreign policy, as they aim to fulfill the Armageddon prophecy and ultimately destroy our civilization
A one-hour documentary that delves into the science of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and the birth of a new movement to treat and prevent toxic stress
Generation Growth tells the story of Green Bronx Machine and its founder, Stephen Ritz, as they grow high performing public schools, happy & healthy children, empowered teachers, and equitable, resilient communities across the nation.