The Monkey House

Amitay Kariv is a down on his luck novelist seemingly destined for obscurity working in Tel Aviv in 1989. Desperately wanting to impress the recently widowed love of his life, Tamar, and secure his legacy beyond the bargain bin, Amitay is enlivened when a literary scholar living abroad shows interest in examining his life’s work for publication. When the researcher unexpectedly falls ill, he recruits Margo, a feisty slacker and wannabe actress more interested in Frankie Goes to Hollywood than Faust in a scheme to impersonate the buttoned up academic. As the mounting deception threatens to overwhelm the pair, the ruse becomes increasingly complicated when Margo and Amar, a documentarian directing a film on 20th Century Palestinian and Israeli authors, begin to catch genuine feelings for each other under false pretenses. Nominated for 11 Israeli Academy Awards, one of Israel’s most beloved directors, Avi Nesher brings a deft touch to this clever comedy, a witty and big-hearted character study that keeps you guessing until the final credits. — Lori Donnelly

Bay Area Premiere

The living legend of Israeli cinema - The Monkey House, is Avi Nesher's latest film after Portrait of Victory (2021), The Other Story (2018), Past Life (2016), The Wonders (2013), The Matchmaker (2010), The Secrets (2007), Turn Left at the End of the World (2004), Dizengoff 99 (1979), The Troupe (1978) and many more.