Betipul

Infobox Television
show_name = Betipul


genre = Drama
runtime = 30 min.
creator = Hagai Levi
starring = Assi Dayan
Gila Almagor
Meirav Gruber
Ayelet Zurer
Lior Ashkenazi
Maya Maron
Alma Zack
Rami Heuberger
Moni Moshonov
Assi Levy
Niv Zilberberg
Tali Sharon
theme_music_composer = Avi Belleli
country = flag|Israel
network = Hot 3
first_aired = August 28, 2005
num_seasons = 2
last_aired = present
num_episodes = 80
list_episodes=
related = "In Treatment"
imdb_id = 0466345
website = http://www.ynet.co.il/home/0,7340,L-5193,00.html

"Betipul" ( _he. בטיפול, "In Treatment") is an Israeli television drama broadcast on Hot 3.

Overview

The show focuses on the life of a therapist, Reuven Dagan. It highlights the difficulties faced by Dagan, personally and professionally. The show is a five-night a week serial with each night usually focusing on a single session. Season 1's cast included Assi Dayan as Dagan, Gila Almagor as Dagan's own therapist and mentor, Meirav Gruber as his wife, and Ayelet Zurer, Lior Ashkenazi, Maya Maron, Alma Zack and Rami Heuberger as his patients.

Season 1 was directed by Nir Bergman, Hagai Levi, Ori Sivan and Uzi Weill, and was written by several writers, including Ari Folman ("Saint Clara") and Assaf Tzipor ("Ha-Hamishia Hakamerit").

Season 2 premiered in January 2008 on the same channel. It was at first supposed to feature a female therapist in the leading role, but it was decided eventually to keep Dagan as the main character. Alma Zack, Rami Heuberger and Gila Almagor reprise their roles from the previous season, and joining the cast are actors Moni Moshonov, Assi Levy, Niv Zilberberg and Tali Sharon.

"Betipul" has been described as one of the best Israeli dramas ever. An American adaptation entitled "In Treatment" premiered January 28, 2008 on the American cable network HBO to critical and audience acclaim. The show stars Gabriel Byrne as Dr. Paul Weston, the equivalent character to Reuven Dagan and Dianne Wiest as Gina, Paul's own therapist. Hagai Levi, co-creator of the original show, is one of the executive producers on the American version. [ [http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/816468.html HBO orders 40 episodes of Israeli series 'Betipul'] ]

Awards and nominations

Season 1 has won all the Israeli Academy Awards given for a drama series, including Best Drama Series, Best Actor and Best Actress given to Dayan and Zurer, Best Script and Best Directing. Maron and Zack were also nominated for Best Actress.

Season 2 was nominated for Best Drama (which went to "Parashat Hashavua"), along with 7 other nominations. Dayan won again the Best Actor award and Levy and Zack both won a Best Actress award. Season 2 also won the Best Script award.

References