Inspired by the Amos Oz novel of the same name, the film is a story of betrayal set in Jerusalem in the late 1950's
Israeli writer-director Dan Wolman has forged an extensive career and has over 50 years of filmmaking behind him. His most recent movies, Hide and Seek, An Israeli Love Story, Valley of Strength and Tied Hands, have been screened and won awards at acclaimed festivals such as Berlin, New Delhi and Moscow, among others. Currently, the filmmaker is in post-production with his new feature, Judas, which is inspired by the novel of the same name penned by renowned Israeli author Amos Oz. The book has been translated into more than 35 languages, received rave reviews and sold over half a million copies in Europe. The story is set in Jerusalem in the winter of 1959. Shmuel Ash, a sensitive student who has dropped out of university because his father’s finances have collapsed, takes a live-in job as a companion to an elderly, incapacitated man, Gershom Wald, who needs someone to argue with. Wald learns from Shmuel that he has stopped working on his thesis, which dealt with Jewish views on Jesus. The conversation between these two protagonists revolves around the humanity of Jesus. Shmuel tells Wald about his alternative theory on Judas Iscariot: he says he believes Judas was not a traitor at all but, in fact, the truest believer in Jesus’s divinity. Furthermore, a relationship develops between Shmuel and Wald’s daughter-in-law, Atalia Abravanel, a sensual and mysterious woman. Shmuel falls in love with her in what becomes a tender coming-of-age tale. Judas is being produced by Amir Gedalia and Dan Wolman, and the movie is now in the post-production phase. Editor Eyal Amir has been working on the project for the last few months, locking the picture, while the sound is in the hands of sound designer and editor Eva Spitkovski, who will mix the film. Also, the graphic design and effects will be handled by Danny Cohen and ADRABA Design. As for the cast, the protagonist of the film is played by newcomer Yuval Livni, while veteran actor Doron Tavori and up-and-coming actress Einav Merkel perform alongside him. Judas is an Israeli production by Dan Wolman Film Production Ltd and has received the support of the Israel Film Project - Rabinovich Foundation, under the auspices of the Israeli Ministry of Culture and Sport. According to current estimates, the film should be ready in mid-March, and its distribution will be handled by Hedva Goldschmidt for Go2Films.