You fell in love with her as Ruchami in the international sensation Shtisel and then when she embodied Esty in Unorthodox. You were hardly alone in your awe at her depth; Shira Haas became the first Israeli actress to be nominated for a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy.
And that was before her latest film, the emotionally captivating mother-daughter drama Asia, which triumphed at last year’s Tribeca Film Festival awards. Not only was Haas selected as the best international actress for her portrayal of the scrawny, saucer-eyed teenager Vika; the film’s screenwriter/director and cinematographer also received top honors.
The Temple Emanu-El Streicker Center is thrilled to welcome Shira Haas, Alena Yiv (who played her mother) and writer/director Ruthy Pribar for a screening of scenes from Asia and a discussion of the film’s depiction of the tense relationship between a woman to whom motherhood didn’t come easily and a daughter who barely interacted with her — and how their awkward estrangement flowered into unconditional love.
Shira Haas won the Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for both an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role in Unorthodox. She earlier starred opposite Jessica Chastain in The Zookeeper’s Wife and is about to go into production on The Lioness, a new film about Golda Meir.
Born in Russia, Alena Yiv has acted in television series, feature films and on the stage in Israel and has been honored as Best Actress at the Ophir Awards and the Jerusalem Film festival.
Filmmaker Ruthy Pribar developed Asia, her debut feature, as part of the prestigious Cannes Film Festival and it won her the Tribeca Film Festival’s Nora Ephron Award. She earlier directed two short films shown at international film festivals.
Moderated by author-journalist Abigail Pogrebin.