- A Touch Away (TV)
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A Touch Away 
Format Drama Created by Zafrir Kochanovsky
Ronit Weis-Berkowitz
Ron NinioStarring Yarden Bar-Kochba
Slava Bibergal
Henry DavidCountry of origin Israel No. of seasons 1 No. of episodes 8 Broadcast Original channel Reshet Original airing January 23, 2007
Pre-release, Haifa Film Festival, Oct 12, 2006A Touch Away (Merchak Negi'aa; Hebrew, מרחק נגיעה) is a 2006 Israeli television eight-episode mini-series set in Bnei Brak, a city to the East of Tel Aviv, within the larger Tel Aviv District, in Israel. It has been described as a kind of Romeo and Juliet story, focusing on the relationship of a young non-religious male Jewish immigrant from Russia who falls in love with a young woman who is part of the city's ultra-orthodox community. Using this relationship as the basis for the story, the series explores the lives of new immigrants and non-religious Jews in Israel.
Contents
History
The series, first released as part of the Haifa International Film Festival on October 12, 2006, and then aired on Israeli television beginning January 23, 2007,[1] broke many Israeli television viewing records, with the final episode garnering more viewers than any Israeli drama up until that time.[2] The series made its debut in the United States at the 2008 Santa Barbara International Film Festival.[3] The episodes have been shown as part of a number of other United States film festivals, as well as other festivals and programs in Israel, and other nations around the world, sometimes followed by discussions of Israel and religious themes involved in the story.[4]
Synopsis
According to T.T.V. Television, one of the producers of the series, the drama series revolves around a hopeless love story between an orthodox religious young woman and a Russian immigrant. The lives of two families interconnect in an apartment complex in the orthodox neighborhood of Bnei Brak, just outside Tel Aviv. The Bermans are a strictly religious family, whose daughter Rochale is about to enter into an arranged marriage with a wealthy young bridegroom. But sparks fly when a thoroughly secular family from Russia moves into a neighboring apartment. The forbidden love that soon blossoms between the two young neighbors, and the secrets that each family must hide, threaten the families deeply rooted traditions and challenge individual family member's beliefs.[5]
Production
The series was created by Zafrir Kochanovsky, Ronit Weis-Berkowitz, and Ron Ninio; and directed by Ron Ninio. It is produced by Zafrir Kochanovsky and Miri Ezra (T.T.V. Productions), and aired on Reshet. Dialogue is conducted in Hebrew, Russian and some Yiddish, with subtitles in Hebrew, Russian, and English.[6]
Cast
- Yarden Bar-Kochba: Lea Berman
- Gaya Traub: Roha'le Berman
- Slava Bibergal: Sasha Mintz
- Henry David: Zorik Mintz
- Yavgania Dodina: Marina Mintz
- Lucy Dubinchik: Natalia Mintz
- Tzahi Grad: Shmuel Berman
- Ezekiel Lizrov: Aaron Berman
- Nitai Gvirtz: Arieh Leiv
American Version
In 2008, HBO announced that it had secured the rights to the series, and is planning to produce an American version, retaining the Israel location and story.[7] It is one of a number of Israeli shows being picked up for American TV.[8] In addition, HBO is working with Israeli television writers to create other new shows, not previously produced in Israel, to air in America.[9]
Awards
Actor Henry David won the 2006 Israeli Television Academy Best Actor Award.[10] Additionally, the series won 2007 Ophir Awards (Israeli Film Academy) including "Best Directing", "Best Script", "Best Actor", "Best Art Design," and "Best Original Score." It also won the 2008 Washington Jewish Film Festival "Special Audience Recognition Award."[11]
See also
- Religion in Israel
- Culture in Israel
- Television in Israel
References
- ^ "Release dates for 'A Touch Away,' IMDB.
- ^ T.T.V. Television series description.
- ^ The Santa Barbara Independent, September 4, 2008.
- ^ Israel in the Bay.
- ^ TTV movies
- ^ Series credits
- ^ "A Touch Away" From HBO?"
- ^ "Hollywood Execs Tune in to Iraeli television.
- ^ Ibid.
- ^ A Touch Away awards.
- ^ The Wilmette Theater:"More than Movies."
External links
Categories:- Israeli culture
- Jewish culture
- Jewish television
- Israeli television programmes
- Israeli drama television series
- Television programmes on Channel 2 (Israel)
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