The Milky Way (2023 film)

The Milky Way
Promotional release poster
Directed byMaya Kenig
Written byMaya Kenig
Produced byMaya Fischer
Gal Greenspan
Roi Kurland
Leon Edery
Alona Refua
Roni Shamiss
StarringHila Ruach
Hadas Yaron
CinematographyAmit Yasur
Edited byMaya Kenig
Music byAssa Raviv
Tom Meira Armony
Hila Ruach
Production
companies
Green Productions
Les Films du Poisson
Distributed byGreenwich Entertainment (North America)
Release date
  • November 14, 2023 (2023-11-14) (PÖFF)
Running time
98 minutes
CountriesIsrael
France
LanguageHebrew

The Milky Way (Hebrew: חלב, romanized: Halav) is a 2023 Israeli-French dystopian black comedy film written, edited and directed by Maya Kenig.[1] Starring Hila Ruach and Hadas Yaron.[2] It is about a young musician and single mother who joins a company that extracts breast milk from poor women to sell to rich mothers.[3]

Synopsis

Tala is a 33-year-old woman who has become a single mother and is unsuccessful as an unconventional musician. Desperate for an income, she goes to work for 'The Milky Way', a breast milk dairy that provides rich mothers with the best quality breast milk from poor mothers. Her work and her meeting with one of the clients will take her on a journey about the complexity of motherhood.[4]

Cast

  • Hila Ruach as Tala
  • Hadas Yaron as Nili
  • Omer Barnea as Eitan
  • Milan Balalty as Sheleg
  • Samira Saraya as Manar
  • Tali Sharon as Manager of Milky Way
  • Evgeny Moliboga as a Milkman
  • Charlotte Philomena Crasta as Angie
  • Seymor Daniel as Shoshana
  • Maayan Turjeman as Betty
  • Orli Roth Feldheim as Tala's mom
  • Michael Fridburg as Lavi
  • Kosta Kaplan as Tala's ex-boyfriend
  • Elisabeth Kedem as Milky Way nurse
  • Nuria Dina Lozinsky as Head nurse at the nursery

Release

It had its world premiere on November 14, 2023, at the 27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival,[5] then screened on June 10, 2024, at the Israel Film Center Festival,[6] on July 20, 2024, at the 41st Jerusalem Film Festival,[7] and on July 26, 2024, at the 44th San Francisco Jewish Film Festival.[8] In early August 2024, the North American distribution rights to the film were acquired by Greenwich Entertainment.[9]

Accolades

Year Award / Festival Category Recipient Result Ref.
2023 27th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival Critics' Picks Competition - Best Film The Milky Way Nominated [10]
Special Jury Mention Won [11]
2024 41st Jerusalem Film Festival Haggiag Award - Best Israeli Feature Film Nominated [12]
Best Screenplay Maya Kenig Won
35th Ophir Awards Best Picture The Milky Way Nominated [13][14]
Best Director Maya Kenig Nominated
Best Supporting Actress Hadas Yaron Nominated
Best Screenplay Maya Kenig Won
Best Cinematography Amit Yassour Nominated
Best Music Asa Raviv, Tom Meira Armoni & Hila Ruach Nominated
Best Editing Maya Kenig Nominated
Best Art Direction Hefi Boehm Nominated
Best Costume Design Raquel Ben Dahan Nominated
Best Sound Aviv Aldema Nominated


References

  1. ^ "The Milky Way". Jerusalem Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  2. ^ Zaltzman, Lior (2024-06-06). "Israeli Film 'The Milky Way' Is a Tender and Viscerally Real Portrayal of Early Motherhood". Kveller. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  3. ^ "ניו יורק האירה השבוע פנים לקולנוע הישראלי, אבל העתיד שלו קודר - וואלה תרבות". וואלה (in Hebrew). 2024-06-11. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  4. ^ "The Milky Way by Maya Kenig". The Party Film Sales. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  5. ^ "The Milky Way". Pimedate Ööde Filmifestival. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  6. ^ "Join us for the 2024 Israel Film Center Festival!". Israel Film Center. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  7. ^ "Festival Calendar". Jerusalem Film Festival. 2024-09-04. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  8. ^ "The Milky Way". San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  9. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (2024-08-07). "Greenwich Entertainment Nabs Israeli Film 'The Milky Way' for North America (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  10. ^ "Tallinn Black Nights announces its Critics' Picks programme". Cineuropa. 2023-10-17. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  11. ^ "הישג גדול לסרט הישראלי "חלב": זכה בציון לשבח בפסטיבל טאלין". Ice (in Hebrew). 2023-11-19. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  12. ^ Dalton, Ben. "Jerusalem Film Festival winners include 'The Story Of Souleymane', 'Santosh'". Screen International. Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  13. ^ Brink, Yaron Ten (2024-08-14). "נשים בחזית: 5 במאיות מועמדות לפרס הגדול של טקס פרסי אופיר". נשים בחזית: 5 במאיות מועמדות לפרס הגדול של טקס פרסי אופיר | טיים אאוט (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-09-04.
  14. ^ "הסרט הטוב ביותר: "קרוב אלי" – רשימת הזוכים בפרס אופיר 2024 - סינמסקופסינמסקופ". סינמסקופ - בלוג הקולנוע של יאיר רוה. ביקורות סרטים, חדשות וטבלת המבקרים. 2024-09-16. Retrieved 2024-09-17.