Off-White Lies

After years of living in the US with her mother and stepfather, sharp-witted teenager Libby (Elya Inbar) returns to Israel to get to know her father, Shaul (Gur Bentvich). Unfortunately, her arrival coincides with the onset of the second Lebanon war. Libby quickly discovers that the irrepressible Shaul is an infantile eccentric, and that he is "between apartments," in other words, homeless. But Shaul soon comes up with a creative plan to put a roof over their heads. They pose as refugees from the bombarded northern region of Israel and are taken in by a well-off family in Jerusalem, setting the stage for some wonderful situational comedy. Finally in a "normal" household, Shaul and Libby begin to build their father-daughter relationship, but their false identities can’t last forever. Especially when Libby releases her teenage fury at the lies permeating her life; those she’s forced to tell now and those she’s been fed since childhood…

Charming, witty and full of sex appeal, writer-director Maya Kenig’s poignant comic drama represents a fresh new voice in the Israeli cinema and one that we should hear more from in the future. Star Bentvich (Kenig’s husband) gives a superb, award-winning performance as the failed father/inventor. And Tzahi Grad is indelible as the head of the host family, who is gradually won over by the potential of Shaul’s smokeless ashtray…