The Farewell Party

(Mita Tova)

Opening at the Avalon Theatre June 12^th 2015

Opening at the Plaza Frontenac June 12^th 2015

Opening at the Living Room Cinema July 3^rd 2015

95 minutes

Hebrew

Israel
Germany

Official website

Well into their '70s, Yehezkel and his wife Levana are living a comfortable life inside a Jerusalem retirement home. But their contented lives are soon dealt a terrible shock when their dear friend Max falls prey to an irreversible illness. Looking for a way out, Max asks Yehezkel for help to die with dignity. Yehezkel, a longtime amateur inventor, rises to the challenge by constructing a machine that will allow Max to self-administer a lethal dose of tranquilizers. Levana, however, believes that such a device is immoral, and expresses her passionate disapproval. But when Levana herself begins to face a serious health issue, Yehezkel finds that his feelings about his new contraption become increasingly complicated. In THE FAREWELL PARTY, co-directors Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit (A MATTER OF SIZE) have tackled an extremely sensitive issue in a vibrant and unique way.

starring...

Ze’ev Revah

Yehezkel

Levana Finkelshtein

Levana

Aliza Rozen

Yana

Ilan Dar

Dr. Daniel

Rafael Tabor

Raffi Segal

Directors, Writers

Tal Granit, Sharon Maymon

Director of Photography

Tobias Hochstein

Editor

Einat Glaser Zarhin

Production design

Arad Sawat

Music

Avi Belleli

94% on the CINEMETER

STL

99% - Mar 22, 2015

Powerful, poignant, sometimes painful. (The) harshness of the subject matter is softened by empathetic portrayals by the cast, good directing and screenplay. Use of tension-relieving humor is brilliant and welcome.
St. Louis Member

Sure is food for thought. Should anyone take another's life? How can anyone even come to the decision to commit suicide?
St. Louis Member

Aging, homosexuality, right to die; Alzheimer's, all presented well, with pathos, dignity and humor.
St. Louis Member

Kept thinking of the character Dubek as the Dybbuk, or evil spirit/devil. Mercy killing would have stopped with Max, the friend. However the "Dubek" made them keep doing it. No bargaining with the devil.
St. Louis Member

Hits very close to home. Mother had Alzheimer's. The health care system in the U.S. does not have the capacity to deal compassionately with the aging process. A complex film.
St. Louis Member

Layered look at serious issues/topics. The many aspects of terminal illness, assisted suicide. Thankful film had humor interjected to help balance the difficult subject. Otherwise, could have been impossible to watch.
St. Louis Member

Hits a chord. My two parents have Alzheimer's. Nothing dignified about their situation.
St. Louis Member

MIL

97% - Mar 22, 2015

Everyone should see this movie!
Milwaukee Member

Well done film about a timely and serious subject, infused with just the right amount of humor to allow the film to delve into this complex subject.
Milwaukee Member

Powerful story.
Milwaukee Member

This is a great film to start a discussion. The themes and concerns are simply universal.
Milwaukee Member

ATL

92% - Mar 8, 2015

How refreshing to see a grave subject like mercy killings fully explored in its complexities but with such levity. The euthanasia comedy of the year.
Atlanta Member

Poignant. Beautiful. Impactful. With two aging parents who are exhibiting signs of Alzheimer's/dementia, this was difficult to watch, but I'm glad I did. There are no easy answers but this explored the issues thoughtfully.
Atlanta Member

Wonderful, truthful slice of life-- laughing one minute, crying the next. A lovely film that touched my heart.
Atlanta Member

This was excellent! I love the humor mixed with the tough ethical decisions. [Moderator note: many comments on the humor being appreciated.] This movie could have been made almost anywhere--I think we all want to control and lead our lives on our own time.
Atlanta Member

It is refreshing to watch older characters who exhibit intelligence and compassion. It heartens me to see people in other countries are struggling with this issue also.
Atlanta Member

94% - Mar 1, 2015

Wonderfully done. I appreciated the use of humor in telling these stories. The comic timing was spot-on, and I appreciate seeing elderly people depicted in such a fully alive way. The friendships were shown so beautifully.
San Francisco Member

Wow - absolutely incredible film on every level. An amazing blend of humor and sadness - left me with lots to think about. Fabulous film. I appreciated the thoughtful discussion.
San Francisco Member

Thank you for an excellent film. A timely movie considering our demographic and the pending legislation in our State. I love the discussion this movie will further about death with dignity.
San Francisco Member

Bravo. So enjoyed this film even with the fact that my dad was in the position of the characters on screen. As to 2 Jewish films in a row....please continue if they are both so wonderful.
San Francisco Member

Probably the most difficult film I've had to sit through in the club. Yet it's a film that everyone should see. Unflinching to the very end.
San Francisco Member

An exquisite blend of tragedy, humor, and friendship, wrapped around issues we should all be thinking about.
San Francisco Member

92% - Mar 15, 2015

Another difficult subject dealt with superbly! This was extraordinarily well-portrayed and well-enacted with nearly all the underlying emotional problems and nuances, including legal. The comic relief was also very well done. Bravo!
Greater New Haven Member

Who knew that the topics of self-inflicted and assisted suicide could be presented in a wryly humorous manner to make the viewer confront their own reactions towards them? With elder care, friendship/sexuality in late life, terminal illness and love thrown in for good measure.
Greater New Haven Member

Beautiful story of devotion between friends and lovers and the moral dilemma of assisted suicide. Loved it! Pulled me in immediately. Loved the casting.
Greater New Haven Member

Funny, powerful, deeply affecting portrayal of the most difficult questions we shall all face: is a life of pain and suffering better than no life at all, and how far are we willing to go for someone we love?
Greater New Haven Member

Splicing in humor at just the right moment strengthened the message that policies and laws need to change to allow dying with dignity. (Note: there were NUMEROUS comments praising the use of humor to balance the seriousness.)
Greater New Haven Member

I liked this much better than STILL ALICE. A compelling case for the need to allow individuals to choose how and when they will die, and the conditions under which they live – along with the risks of doing so. A wonderfully warm, humane, and humorous movie.
Greater New Haven Member

Balanced view of the conundrums, discomfort, tragedy and comedy of aging and death, set in an atmosphere of love, affection, friendship and caring amongst friends.
Greater New Haven Member

Exceptional film – one of the best of many seasons of the film club!!
Greater New Haven Member

I can’t stop crying. My heart is broken.
Greater New Haven Member

98% - Mar 15, 2015

That was some party! So well done. The same goes for living & dying -- we should all be able to have 'our say.'
Washington, DC Member

Beautifully done- wouldn't it be nice if we all had a choice!
Washington, DC Member

An excellent portrayal of end of life issues - thankfully tempered with humor
Washington, DC Member

Excellent movie. The social issues are universal and relate-able to the same issues in the U.S.
Washington, DC Member

A horror film which everyone should see.
Washington, DC Member

For a foreign film with annoying subtitles and a depressing topic, a surprisingly fun(ny) time
Washington, DC Member

BOS

97% - Mar 15, 2015

"Difficult topic. Timely and necessary. Frightening prospects and decisions that do not spare any of us"
Boston Member

"A perfect blend of humor and sadness, moral issues is diminished by humor"
Boston Member

"Excellent but depressing for me at 95!"
Boston Member

"A story that must be told"
Boston Member

"I was not in the mood. BUT, I thought the balance between humor and sadness, irony, ethical and moral decisions was a good, positive element. There should be more conversations about assisted suicide. I have friend who just died of her own decision. Only one of 4 in Vermont.
Boston Member

BOCA

82% - Feb 22, 2015

Best film of the season!
Boca Raton Member

This movie brings an important discussion to the forefront with great tenderness and sensitivity. Thank God for Hospice.

Boca Raton Member

Excellent movie and acting about a difficult subject.
Boca Raton Member

Use of humor helps lighten a difficult subject.
Boca Raton Member

An excellent portrayal of a very difficult subject. The humor was well done and welcome. Acting was great. The opposing religious and legal questions were not addressed very much but I am glad that the death with dignity case was well presented.
Boca Raton Member

A charming but poignant film about an all too real and terrifying subject. How do we watch our loved ones suffer and how do we let them go?"
Boca Raton Member

True to reality.
Boca Raton Member

Very sensitively portrayed life issues that we all face and some of us are going thru or went thru. The acting was flawless, wonderful
Boca Raton Member

Great performances by all with sympathetic characters you could empathize with. Could we have a lighter, upbeat film next time--puhleeze?!
Boca Raton Member

Samuel Goldwyn Films