Acclaimed Israeli Film Director Yaakov Goldwasser Dies at 76

Yaakov (Yankul) Goldwasser, a prominent Israeli film and television director and screenwriter, passed away on Thursday at the age of 76. Goldwasser was responsible for some of the most iconic films in Israeli cinema, including "Abba Ganuv" (Stolen Grandfather), "Mitachat La'af" (Under the Nose), "Me'ever La'yam" (Beyond the Sea), and "Shrochim" (Laces), alongside extensive work in television.

Born in Tel Aviv in September 1950 to parents who immigrated from Poland, Goldwasser began making short films at age 15 with director Yaky Yosha. He started his professional film career in 1969, later working in editing and production. His directorial debut was the 1982 film "Mitachat La'af," starring Moshe Ivgy and Uri Gavriel. Based on a true story and written by Haim Marin, the film became a cult classic in Israel.

Five years later, he directed "Abba Ganuv," starring Yehuda Barkhan and Keren Mor, which also became a cult hit and spawned two sequels. In 1991, Goldwasser directed "Me'ever La'yam," a film about Holocaust survivors in the early days of the State of Israel. The movie won most of the major Ophir Awards that year, including Best Film and Best Director, and was Israel's submission for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

Goldwasser's work extended to television, where he directed the drama series "Letzapot Et Ha'shamayim" (Catching the Sky) in 2000 and "Me'orav Yerushalmi" (Jerusalem Mixed Grill) in 2003, which explored a traditional family and secular-religious relations in Israel. His final film was "Shrochim" in 2018, starring Dov Glickman and Nevo Kimchi.

Throughout his career, Goldwasser also engaged in writing, editing, and production, earning awards both in Israel and internationally. He also taught directing at Israeli film and art institutions. His passing at 76 marks the end of a career spanning over four decades, during which he contributed to works that became integral to Israeli cultural memory.