The Vanishing Soldier (Hebrew: החייל הנעלם) is a 2023 Israeli war drama thriller film directed by Dani Rosenberg who co-wrote with Amir Kliger. It is about a deserter soldier who sets out on a journey back home but his situation is complicated when his superiors think he was kidnapped by the enemy. It stars Ido Tako accompanied by Mika Reiss, Efrat Ben Zur, Tiki Dayan and Shmulik Cohen.
The Vanishing Soldier had its world premiere on August 5, 2023, at the 76th Locarno Film Festival, where it competed for the Golden Leopard. The film received 11 Ophir Award nominations including Best Picture.
Synopsis A year from today. Shlomi, an 18-year-old soldier, flees the Gaza Strip battlefield and makes his way back to his girlfriend Shiri. When Shlomi discovers that the military elite is convinced he was kidnapped during the fog of war, he no longer hides from the soldiers he believed were chasing after him, but from his own identity, which has become a trap. In spite of his parents’ pleas that he returns to his unit before it's too late, Shlomi takes a desperate chance on love, with dramatic consequences.
Cast
Ido Tako as Shlomi Mika Reiss as Shiri Efrat Ben Zur as Shlomi's Mother Tiki Dayan as Shlomi's Grandmother Shmulik Cohen as Shlomi's Father Mushy Vider as Deputy Officer
Release It had its world premiere on August 5, 2023, at the 76th Locarno Film Festival, to later be screened in mid-August of the same year in the Kinoscope section of the 29th Sarajevo Film Festival. It was also invited at the 28th Busan International Film Festival in 'Flash Forward' section and was screened on 8 October 2023.
Accolades YearAward / FestivalCategoryRecipientResultRef.2023Locarno Film FestivalGolden LeopardThe Vanishing SoldierOphir AwardBest PictureBest DirectorDani RosenbergBest ActorIdo TakoBest Supporting ActressEfrat Ben ZurBest ScreenplayDani Rosenberg & Amir KligerBest CinematographyDavid StragmeisterBest Original MusicYuval SemoBest EditingNili FellerBest MakeupShir MatzrafiBest CastingLimor ShmilaBest SoundNeal Gibbs2024Warsaw Jewish Film FestivalBest Narrative FeatureSeven Blessings
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