Footnote

2011 | Drama | 107 minutes | Hebrew with English subtitles

Info

Eliezer Shkolnik and his son Uriel areTalmudic scholars at Jerusalem’s Hebrew University. However, each of their careers takes an opposing trajectory. Eliezer is an old-school researcher who has never been recognized for his achievements; Uriel is an up-and-coming, well-liked scholar with radical exciting ideas. Eliezer is surprised when he gets a call from the office of the Minister of Education informing him he is the recipient of this year’s prestigious Israel Prize. Eliezer is thrilled. But shortly thereafter, Yehuda Grossman, the head of the committee, discovers a huge mistake. The Israel Prize was meant to be for the son and not the father. Uriel pleads with Grossman to give the Prize to his father. Uriel realizes he’s making a sacrifice that will affect his career. He also realizes it’s inevitable that one day his father will know the truth.

Cast

Eliezer Shkolnik (Shlomo Bar-Aba) / Uriel Shkolnik (Lior Ashkenazi) / Yehuda Grossman (Micah Lewensohn)

Why Stream This Film?

A messy mistake: The Talmudic Department at Hebrew University awards a prestigious prize to a father when it should have been awarded to the son. The father is ecstatic; the son torn with anguish. This earthshaking problem is also so heart-wrenching.

Rotten Tomatoes Score (Critics Consensus): 89%
Metacritic Score: 83

Accolades

Academy Awards: Nominated, Best Foreign Language Film
Cannes Film Festival: Winner, Best Screenplay (Joseph Cedar); Nominated for the Palme d’Or
National Board of Review: Listed, Top Five Foreign Language Films
Israeli Film Academy Awards: Winner, Best Film; Best Actor (Shlomo Bar-Aba); Best Supporting Actor (Lior Ashkenazi); Best Director (Joseph Cedar); Best Screenplay (Joseph Cedar)

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