While many international film festivals, including Cannes , are currently sidelining Israeli cinema, it’s heartening to see some still choosing to showcase the latest Hebrew film industry productions. The Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, one of the oldest and most esteemed on the international scene, has selected Tropicana , the debut film by director and screenwriter Omer Tobi, for the Proxima competition, its second most prestigious category. The Proxima competition features films that offer bold perspectives on cinema.
3 View gallery Irit Sheleg in Tropicana ( Photo: Philippe Lavalette ) The 58th Karlovy Vary Festival will open late next month in the Czech resort town. Tropicana , starring Irit Sheleg ( Bar 51 , Abba Ganuv 3 , Fill the Void ), follows Orly, a middle-aged supermarket cashier living in a remote desert town. She divides her time between her monotonous job and caring for her family and demanding mother.
The mysterious murder of the head cashier leads to Orly's promotion, but she inherits not only the head cashier's position but also her turbulent past. Soon, Orly embarks on a dark journey of sexual discoveries, delving into her repressed desires and revealing her longing for human warmth and closeness. While Tropicana is Tobi's feature-length debut, his portfolio is extensive, including short films, the Mediterranean musical drama series The Heiress and dozens of music videos for renowned artists such as Ivri Lider, Ran Danker, Sarit Hadad and Dana .