Raphael Nadjari
Encyclopedia
Raphaël Nadjari is a French born writer and director for film and television.
In 1993, Nadjari started working for French television as a writer and director. In 1997, he wrote the television screenplay Le P'tit Bleu, which was directed by Francois Vautier for Arte
as part of the TV drama collection Petits Gangsters.
The same year he wrote and directed his first US feature, The Shade
(released in 1999), which starred Richard Edson
, Lorie Marino, and Jeff Ware). It was an adaptation of A Gentle Creature
by Dostoevsky that Nadjari updated, setting it in contemporary New York City
. This film was an official selection for Un Certain Regard
at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
and also appeared at the Deauville Film Festival; the film was awarded in Bergamo Film Festival (Italy).
At the end of 1999, Nadjari directed his second feature, I Am Josh Polonski's Brother
(2001). Starring Richard Edson and Jeff Ware, it was shot on Super 8 mm film in New York. The film opened in Paris on June 6, 2001, and was selected for the Forum for New Cinema at the Berlin International Film Festival
in 2001. The same year, Nadjari shot the film Apartment #5c in New York; it was released in 2002. The film starred Richard Edson and Tinkerbell, an Israeli actress, and was selected in Cannes' Director's Forthnight.
In 2004, Nadjari filmed Avanim
in Tel Aviv with Asi Levi who has been nominated for Best Actress in the European Film Award. The film received also the Best Film award in Cinéma Tous Ecrans and the Best Director award in the Cannes 2005 France Culture Award.
His latest fiction, Tehilim
is set in Jerusalem and stars Michael Moushanov and Limor Goldstein, two prominent figures of Israeli television and theatre; it has been shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
in the Official Selection and won the Tokyo Filmex Best Film Award the same year.
In 2009, his documentary A History of Israeli Cinema, a two-episode film of 104 minutes each, telling the story of Israeli Cinema since 1933 until today, was screened at the Berlin film festival forum.
In 1993, Nadjari started working for French television as a writer and director. In 1997, he wrote the television screenplay Le P'tit Bleu, which was directed by Francois Vautier for Arte
Arte
Arte is a Franco-German TV network. It is a European culture channel and aims to promote quality programming especially in areas of culture and the arts...
as part of the TV drama collection Petits Gangsters.
The same year he wrote and directed his first US feature, The Shade
The Shade (1998 film)
The Shade is Raphael Nadjari's debut feature. This is a modern adaptation of Fyodor Dostoyevsky's A Gentle Creature, and takes place in contemporary New York City.-Plot:...
(released in 1999), which starred Richard Edson
Richard Edson
Richard Edson is an American actor and musician.-Biography:Edson was born in New Rochelle, New York. He has one brother, Steven, who resides in the Boston area, and two sisters: Andrea, who resides in Newton, Massachusetts and Jennifer, who resides in New York City. His father Arnold was one of...
, Lorie Marino, and Jeff Ware). It was an adaptation of A Gentle Creature
A Gentle Creature
"A Gentle Creature" , sometimes also translated as "The Meek One", is a short story written by Fyodor Dostoyevsky in 1876. The piece comes with the subtitle of "A Fantastic Story", and it chronicles the relationship between a pawnbroker and a girl that frequents his shop. The story was inspired by...
by Dostoevsky that Nadjari updated, setting it in contemporary New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. This film was an official selection for Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard
Un Certain Regard is a section of the Cannes Film Festival's Official Selection. It is run at the Salle Debussy, parallel to the competition for the Palme d'Or.This section was introduced in 1978 by Gilles Jacob...
at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival
1999 Cannes Film Festival
The 52nd Cannes Film Festival was held on May 12-23, 1999. The Palme d'Or went to the French-Belgian film Rosetta by Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.-Jury:* David Cronenberg * André Téchiné * Barbara Hendricks...
and also appeared at the Deauville Film Festival; the film was awarded in Bergamo Film Festival (Italy).
At the end of 1999, Nadjari directed his second feature, I Am Josh Polonski's Brother
I Am Josh Polonski's Brother
I Am Josh Polonski's Brother is Raphael Nadjari's second feature film. It was shot in New York City in 1999 and early 2000, in S8mm 200 ASA. The film was selected in the Berlin Film Festival at the Forum.-Plot:...
(2001). Starring Richard Edson and Jeff Ware, it was shot on Super 8 mm film in New York. The film opened in Paris on June 6, 2001, and was selected for the Forum for New Cinema at the Berlin International Film Festival
Berlin International Film Festival
The Berlin International Film Festival , also called the Berlinale, is one of the world's leading film festivals and most reputable media events. It is held in Berlin, Germany. Founded in West Berlin in 1951, the festival has been celebrated annually in February since 1978...
in 2001. The same year, Nadjari shot the film Apartment #5c in New York; it was released in 2002. The film starred Richard Edson and Tinkerbell, an Israeli actress, and was selected in Cannes' Director's Forthnight.
In 2004, Nadjari filmed Avanim
Avanim
Avanim is Raphael Nadjari's fourth feature film. It was shot in and around Tel Aviv in 2003, in HDCam. The film was presented in the Berlin Film Festival as a Panorama: Special presentation in 2004.- Plot :...
in Tel Aviv with Asi Levi who has been nominated for Best Actress in the European Film Award. The film received also the Best Film award in Cinéma Tous Ecrans and the Best Director award in the Cannes 2005 France Culture Award.
His latest fiction, Tehilim
Tehilim (film)
Tehilim is Raphael Nadjari's fifth feature film. It was shot in Jerusalem in 2006.-Plot:In contemporary Jerusalem, a small Jewish family leads an ordinary life until following a car accident, the father mysteriously disappears. They all deal with his absence and the difficulties of everyday life...
is set in Jerusalem and stars Michael Moushanov and Limor Goldstein, two prominent figures of Israeli television and theatre; it has been shown at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival
2007 Cannes Film Festival
The 2007 Cannes Film Festival, the sixtieth, ran from 16 to 27 May 2007. Wong Kar-wai's My Blueberry Nights opened the festival, and Denys Arcand's The Age of Ignorance closed...
in the Official Selection and won the Tokyo Filmex Best Film Award the same year.
In 2009, his documentary A History of Israeli Cinema, a two-episode film of 104 minutes each, telling the story of Israeli Cinema since 1933 until today, was screened at the Berlin film festival forum.