The Tale of Nicolai and the Law of Return

Name: The Tale of Nicolai and the Law of Return
Director: David Ofek
Released: 2008

David Ofek 2008

With humor and irony, in a style of a tale, using an original mix genre language, the film tells the story of a Romanian worker who realizes his Jewish roots can reverse his fortune, once his Palestinian friends reveal to him the amazing advantages of a having Jewish grandmother.

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Running Time:

54 min.

Spoken Languages:

Hebrew, Romanian

Subtitles:

English

Directors:

David Ofek

Producers:

Elinor Kowarsky, Edna Kowarsky

Cinematographers:

Dror Lebendiger

Editors:

Arik Lahav–Leibovich

Production Companies:

Eden Productions

Creative

Globalization

Hybrid

Immigration and Migrat..

Jewish Studies

Labor

Middle Eastern Studies

Society

The Tale of Nicolai and the Law of Return

Press

The Wolgin Award

For its ironic and critical attitude toward the Law of Return and the status of guest workers in Israel, the Jury appreciated the film's originality and its use of humor in a work that deals with such a sensitive and complicated issue

The Wolgin Award, The Jerusalem International Film Festival

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Uri Klein

A human comedy with shadings of satire and irony,
A film that challenges the traditional definitions of documentary, raising extremely relevant questions about contemporary film-making.

Uri Klein, Ha'aretz
The Award of the Marshall

The film depicts the absurdity of a would-be ethnic belonging

The Award of the Marshall of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, dokumentART Film Festival.
Jury's Statement

For its ironic and critical attitude toward the Law of Return and the status of guest workers in Israel, the Jury appreciated the film's originality and its use of humor in a work that deals with such a sensitive and complicated issue.

The Jerusalem International Film Festival.

Festival Participation

The Jerusalem International Film Festival - 2008
Best Documentary Award- The Wolgin Award
Best Documentary Award – The Wolgin Award, The Jerusalem International Film Festival (Israel, July 2008)
Vision's du Reel Film Festival - 2009
goEast Festival - 2009
goEast Humanity Aspect Award
Syracuse International Film Festival - 2009
Official Selection- INPUT - 2009

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6th International Film Festival Jewish Motifs - 2009
CRONOGRAF- International Documentary FF - 2009
Rodos International Film & Visual Arts festival ECOFILMS - 2009
San Francisco Jewish Film Festival - 2009
AsterFest Film Festival - 2009
Shanghai TV Festival - 2009
Festival of Liberties - 2009
Palm Beach Jewish Film Festival - 2009
Boston Jewish Film Festival - 2009
Mediterranean Film Festival in Siroki Brijeg - 2009
• Audience Award - 10.

Additional Materials

Film Poster

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More Festival Screenings and Awards
- documentART – European Film Festival, 2009
- 10^th Astra FF, 2009
- Hong Kong Jewish FF, 2009
- Washington Jewish FF, 2009
- Best Documentary Award – The Israeli Documentary Filmmakers´ Forum Competition, 2009
- Dallas Video Festival, 2009
- UK Jewish Film Festival, 2009
Television Broadcasters
- YES-docu, Israel
- Radio Canada, Canada

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