Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays

Director: Scandar Copti
Country: Palestine, Germany, France, Italy, Qatar

2024 | 123 min. | Arabic, Hebrew
Subtitles: German, English
FSK | Nicht geprüft / No clearance

Cast_ Manar Shehab, Wafaa Aoun, Meirav Memoresky, Toufic Danial Screenplay_ Scandar Copti Camera_ Tim Kuhn Producer_ Tony Copti, Jiries Copti, Dorothe Beinemeier, Jean Brehat, Marco Valerio Fusco, Micaela Fusco Rights_ Red Balloon Film

A fractured country under a magnifying glass: Scandar Copti presents a moving family drama against the backdrop of the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Haifa. A car accident has initially only minor consequences for young “Fifi”. But the event sets in motion a chain reaction of lies and intrigue that plunges two families – one Jewish-Israeli, the other Palestinian – into deep crisis.

With great empathy for all sides, ›Happy Holidays‹ paints a portrait of a young Israeli generation caught between conservative values and its own lack of direction. Through a narrative made up of alternating episodes, a complex kaleidoscope of perspectives emerges. Ultimately, it is above all young women who show strength in this tense situation and give us cause for hope. A powerful movie. An important movie.

Director

Scandar Copti is an Arab-Israeli filmmaker known for films that highlight the social problems of the Arab community in Israel. His debut film ›Ajami‹ (2009) was nominated for an Oscar. For ›Happy Holidays‹, he received the Orizzonti Award for Best Screenplay at Venice this year.

Screenings