One Week and a Day

98 minutes

Hebrew

Israel

As Eyal finishes the traditional Jewish week of mourning for his late son, his wife Vicky urges him to return to their routine -- but just because the shiva has ended doesn’t mean it’s life as usual. Each coping in their own way, Eyal and Vicky both attempt to regain a sense of control over their future, as they struggle to discover that there are still things in life worth living for. Asaph Polonsky’s debut feature ONE WEEK AND A DAY provides a nuanced perspective on loss that is humorous, touching, and above all else, life affirming.

starring...

Shai Avivi

Eyal

Evgenia Dodina

Vicky

Tomer Kapon

Zooler

Carmit Mesilati Kaplan

Keren Zooler

Sharon Alexander

Shmulik Zooler

Alona Shauloff

Bar

Director

Asaph Polonsky

Writer

Asaph Polonsky

Music By

Ran Bagno

Cinematography

Moshe Mishali

Editing

Tali Helter-Shenkar

Casting

Esther King

Art Direction

Yoav Sinai

65% on the CINEMETER

STL

71% - Feb 19, 2017

An interesting character study on how two people dealt with death so differently. For the wife it was staying organized and carrying on as normal--but for the husband it was anger--escape, silliness--and finally two younger people and another person's funeral to ground him into acceptance and re-connecting with his wife. Zooler was great!
St. Louis Member

A touching story on how people deal very differently with death and grief. The parents seem to go down different paths to cope, but at the end seem to have hope to go forward with the daily routines of "living."
St. Louis Member

A fair first film dealing with a couple going through the stages of grief, often using humor and quasi-slapstick. Interesting to watch as the couple begins to transition from their flat affect to reconnecting with life through kittens, young people, and encountering others who are grieving.
St. Louis Member

Everyone grieves differently and for two people in an intimate relationship grieving the same person it's very difficult to tolerate those differences. It was uplifting to see this couple not let it destroy their relationship which so often happens.
St. Louis Member

A poignant, affecting film about how a totally believable married couple deal with the profound loss of a beloved son. Brilliant direction, many quiet "ordinary" scenes that are deeply moving.
St. Louis Member

ATL

68% - Feb 19, 2017

Beautiful, touching, and universally true portrayal of the conflicting emotions that are part of grief. Best scene--the wife filmed through the window as the shade slowly raises.
Atlanta Member

Almost perfect! We grieve in our own way. Terrific acting.
Atlanta Member

Great black comedy. I liked the way the film did not dwell on the deceased son, but totally focused on the survivors (no flashbacks) and remained in the present. Grief without melodrama.
Atlanta Member

The only movie I've ever seen that captures "real-life" grieving--not histrionics but acute aloneness and inability to reconnect to your old life and friends. I felt revealed and understood.
Atlanta Member

Very impressive especially since this is the director's first film. Complex and subtle. Despite the intensity of the grief, the film left me with the sense that they would be okay, largely as a result of the comic elements, the little girl and the kittens.
Atlanta Member

Moving examination of the transition from individual grief to acceptance of the universal nature of suffering and bereavement.
Atlanta Member

Ferris Bueller's (One Week and a) Day Off meets Curb Your Enthusiasm.
Atlanta Member

I loved the cinematography--some of the shots were incredible, I.E., when Eyal, Vidky and Zooler were laying on the son's bed. I knew Zooer in Ann Arbor in 1966.
Atlanta Member

MIL

75% - Feb 19, 2017

Wonderful acting. The film really was able to delineate some of the ways that people react to and learns to accept and live with grief.
Milwaukee Member

Thought provoking. Great ending with eulogy at sister funeral.
Milwaukee Member

Lovely little film. Glad the Cinema Club showed it because I don't think it would come to Milwaukee.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

61% - Feb 12, 2017

Very moving.You can feel the anger, and the sadness.
Boston Member

Entertaining. An interesting, thoughtful film.
Boston Member

I did not like it in the beginning—but by the end I appreciated it and felt it came together.
Boston Member

Wonderful details, sensibility, metaphor of kittens, cold white graveyeard…A different way of dealing with death of a child: no blast or hysteria.
Boston Member

Strange film—sort of funny—but very sad. All the characters acting were excellent.
Boston Member

66% - Feb 12, 2017

Great first film. Look forward to future films
San Francisco Member

Stunning debut of a writer and director w/a clear vision and ability to convey it. Sensitive and heartwarming
San Francisco Member

Authentic bits of life of the unexplainable and highly personal ways people grieve and relate to people who are not grieving
San Francisco Member

A gem! Funny, sad and moving. We all grieve differently.
San Francisco Member

Slow moving but touching. Liked the kittens ,their role in the story was weird though.
San Francisco Member

Loved that it explored where grief goes after the initial shock and horror and crying when the grief has to share space with ordinary life. Impressed with the comic timing, so many small touches that worked every time ie the mom in the park sharing the joint and not wanting to let it go. Loved the beauty and magic of the 'air' surgery
San Francisco Member

Great performances
San Francisco Member

62% - Feb 12, 2017

Insightful peek into life after loss, particularly with the hospice scenes. Impressed that laughter was incorporated well, which is what happens after death. Life goes on.
Greater New Haven Member

Surprisingly moving. Initially the story seemed slight but it stuck with me. A poignant portrayal of grief and healing.
Greater New Haven Member

I found the scene with Zooler and the guitar strange until it led to the scene of the "air operation," which I found very touching. [Note: a few others praised the "surgery" scene.]
Greater New Haven Member

Grief, anger, love, and humor. A very touching and honest film. Really liked the music as an important element. Cinematography, especially in the cemetery scene, was special.
Greater New Haven Member

Although it felt slow, it made a point about people needing to grieve in their own way. I liked the subtlety of the appearance of the blanket. And it seemed ok to Eyal that it was on the little girl's mother's bed.
Greater New Haven Member

Vicarious mourning can be as beneficial as vicarious pleasure, if we let it. Our society does not offer a pathway through grief. We expect people to 'move on' almost instantly. Grief can take various routes. Use of comic relief was great!
Greater New Haven Member

I loved the messy way that real life intrudes, even at the most profoundly dire moments. The film really captured how we are forced to grieve alongside all the ordinary moments of living.
Greater New Haven Member

So much that is common to all human beings: seeking solace in food, in drugs, in objects (the blanket); flailing, feeling anger, pushing people away and wanting connection, human comfort. Amazing acting. Beautiful film.
Greater New Haven Member

72% - Feb 12, 2017

It got better as it went along. The high point (no pun intended) was the scene at the graveyard
Washington, DC Member

Interesting study of individual responses to death, loss and saying goodbye.
Washington, DC Member

Grieving is such an individual experience, and it is nice to see a film that honors that and does not bow to the usual tropes.
Washington, DC Member

The actor that played Zooler was great - he seemed to be the only authentic character.
Washington, DC Member

Best shiva I've been to in a while, or at least it's aftermath.

I needed a corny mumblecore movie about mourning and getting stoned - thanks!
Washington, DC Member

BOCA

44% - Jan 22, 2017

Acting great! Heartful and enjoyed very much.
Boca Raton Member

Best part was the pretend operation scene which was very touching!
Boca Raton Member

Second time I saw it and liked it better this time around. Lots of meaning on several levels.
Boca Raton Member

Good acting and well done portrayal of how people handle grief.
Boca Raton Member

When I read the description, I almost left but they dealt with a very difficult subject extremely well and sensitively.
The mother's face spoke volumes. The father, in spite of his pain, reminded me of Larry David. Excellent use of music to lighten the mood, and the scenes with the little girl brought a special depth.
Boca Raton Member

Boca Raton Member

Oscilloscope Laboratories