Filmmaker Moshe Rosenthal Discusses His Award-Winning Film and Personal Reflections
Translated & summarized from Calcalist by baba
Filmmaker Moshe Rosenthal's acclaimed film 'Independence' is currently on an international promotional tour for the Oscars after winning ten Ophir Awards. Rosenthal, who is also developing new projects, reflected on his career, personal life, and fears, including a sense of betrayal following the October 7th attacks. He considers his films, which he believes bridge societal divides, his greatest achievement. He also expressed a desire for multiple homes and misses the romance of the pre-social media era.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Filmmaker Moshe Rosenthal's film 'Independence' is on an international tour for the Oscars after winning ten Ophir Awards.
- Rosenthal feels betrayed as a filmmaker, not as an Israeli, following the October 7th attacks and subsequent backlash.
- He considers his films 'Karaoke' and 'Independence' his greatest achievement for uniting diverse Israeli societal groups.
- Rosenthal dreams of owning multiple homes globally to avoid feeling permanently rooted.
- He fears financial instability and recalls a painful instance of a festival canceling his film screening.
- If not a filmmaker, he would have pursued music or choreography.
Moshe Rosenthal, a 41-year-old filmmaker from Tel Aviv, is currently in the midst of moving and preparing for an international trip to promote his film 'Independence.' The movie, which won ten Ophir Awards including Best Film, is representing Israel in the Oscar race and is currently showing in cinemas. Rosenthal, who is single, is also working on his next film and a comedy series about a local sex scandal.
Rosenthal describes himself as someone who is meticulous about his hair and enjoys trying new, unusual products. He values the advice of director Danny Boyle to 'steal from your younger self,' aiming to recapture the inspiration he had as a student. His routine includes writing in the morning, cleaning, watching YouTube, and family meals on weekends.
He expresses a desire for the superpower of rapid reading, lamenting that he only reads two to three books a year. When asked about his ideal dinner companion, he chose his late Turkish grandfather, Z'ako, whom he remembers as a 'wild card' who lived life to the fullest. He also finds Christopher Plummer's portrayal of Captain von Trapp in 'The Sound of Music' to be exceptionally sexy.
Rosenthal misses the romance, rock and roll, and healthy rebellion of the pre-social media era, recalling channeling his youthful anger into dancing rather than violence. He dreams of owning multiple homes in diverse locations like Paris, a Greek island, and Los Angeles to avoid feeling tied down. His greatest achievement, he states, is his films 'Karaoke' and 'Independence,' which he believes successfully brought together disparate segments of Israeli society in cinemas, serving as a bridge.
He admits to a deep-seated fear of financial instability, stemming from his upbringing. Following the October 7th attacks, he also feared global backlash and being ostracized, recalling a painful instance where a festival canceled a screening of his film due to suspicions of it being Israeli propaganda. Despite this, he now feels less afraid and states, 'I feel betrayed as a filmmaker, not as an Israeli.' He finds happiness in his parents' pride, genuine cinematic experiences, and the support of a loved one. His most prized possessions are his awards, which his parents keep for him. If not a filmmaker, he would have pursued music or choreography.