HollyShorts / Rhode Island International Film Festival 2019 – Starboy
When a young Hasidic man turns to the study of the Kabbalah and Quantum mechanics, his pious young wife doesn’t understand why there are suddenly so many unorthodox books in their cramped London’s Stamford Hill flat. What is he trying to tell her? As he increasingly doubts his identity, his gender and the nature of being, their conflict grows - with irreparable and shocking consequences.
Interview with Writer/Director/Editor Joelle Bentolila
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I wanted to make a film about the angst and dilemma of deeply religious people struggling with gender issues and nothing was more thought-provoking than setting the story in the gender-segregated, very isolated, Yiddish speaking, ultra-Orthodox Jewish Hasidic community of London’s Stamford Hill.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
This is a short film with a unique and powerful story with a thought-provoking subject matter and a surprising twist. The main characters' interaction is meaningful and insightful and allows the viewer to get a glimpse into the psychology and humanity of a very insular often misunderstood community and a highly under-represented group: the Haredi community of London’s Stamford Hill, something that is rarely done, and to that level. Also, it is beautifully shot, which doesn't hurt, kudos to the amazing cinematography.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Starboy is the story of a very religious, very spiritual young man who questions who he is, his gender, his essence - which triggers heart-wrenching conflicts with his very pious young wife and his religious community. So one of the universal themes of the film is how conflicting beliefs can destroy the life of a married couple. The other main theme relates to his community. He rebels but also still aspires to exist within the boundaries of the very restrictive community he belongs to but that is bound to reject him. That’s the main theme of the film and the depth of his personal dilemma – a universal one: how to be true to oneself and at the same time remain a part of the only community one has ever known whilst in conflict with it? Is it even possible? Will his community accommodate such a disrupting change?
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I knew of the lives of ultra-Orthodox Jewish people but had to do a lot of research on gender issues in Judaism, the Kaballah, Quantum physics and the challenge was to find the right way to inject all that knowledge into the storytelling so it would remain 'down-to-earth', real, engaging, and always very visual. I told myself that everything had to flow always. Finding the ending was a process but I was always ready to 'kill my darlings.'
What type of feedback have you received so far?
Very good feedback. Perhaps because the subject matter is so today's conversation? Also, we've been told that the film is strangely uplifting. And zen. I'm not so sure.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I felt the film was mostly understood the way I understood it. What I love is that some people had a different understanding of the ending and then imagined what would happen after the last image.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
Of course, we hope it will entice people to watch it. And perhaps talk about it and share it. That would be really great, a true pleasure for us.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
We would like a greater number of film festival directors to pay attention to our film and select it. Also, have more journalists review it. And at some point, have sales agents and or distributors come on board. Making a short film is all about the passion and love you have to tell a particular story, so being able to share it is everything for us.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
If Starboy can trigger conversations about religion, gender issues, mysticism, the mysteries that surround us, acceptance, and understanding, I'm happy.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
We would love to have the film spark a debate on Religion, Inclusion and the Gender Revolution and on how they can all accommodate each other. Is it possible? What can be done toward it?
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I have written the treatment of the feature film based on that short film and am starting to write the screenplay for it. I hope to make it as unusual as well. I have also other film and TV projects of all kinds.
Interview: August 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Starboy
When a young Hasidic man turns to the study of the Kabbalah and Quantum mechanics, his pious young wife doesn’t understand why there are suddenly so many unorthodox books in their cramped London’s Stamford Hill flat. What is he trying to tell her? As he increasingly doubts his identity, his gender and the nature of being, their conflict grows - with irreparable and shocking consequences.
Length: 17:23
Director: Joelle Bentolila
Producer: Tibo Travers
Writer: Joelle Bentolila
About the writer, director and producer:
London-based writer-director JOËLLE BENTOLILA has a number of short films, documentaries, and optioned or commissioned screenplays under her belt. Her short film Starboy was the 2018 winner of the Pears Film Fund Award. As a screenwriter, she has worked with notable producers in France, the UK, and the US. Her first feature film, The Maze, was in competition in Slamdance and won several awards on the festival circuit.
TIBO TRAVERS is a Film Producer based in London since 2006, working across Britain and France in fiction and advertising. He is the founder of Sweetdoh! - a Production Company behind a slate of short films that have screened at festivals such as Palm Springs, Galway Fleadh, Raindance, Sundance London, Encounters, Aesthetica, Hollyshorts etc...
Key cast: Barney Harris (Yehud), Tallulah Haddon (Elisheva), James Larkin (Rabbi Siskin)
Looking for: film festival directors, journalists, sales agents, distributors
Facebook: Starboy
Twitter: @JoelleBentolila
Instagram: @starboyshortfilm
Hashtags used: #starboy #hollywood #festival #womeninfilm #femaledirector #filmmaker #rainbow #equality #man #woman #loveislove #nonbinary #nonconforming #genderfluid #light #truth #adam #firstman #womeninfilm #kabbalah #quantum #physics #wave #particle #duality #meaning #life #essence #being #film #shortfilm #filmmaking #cinematography #story #storytelling #drama #cinema #why #whynot #religion
Website: www.starboyfilm.com
Made in association with: UK Jewish Film and The Pears Film Fund
Funders: UK Jewish Film and The Pears Film Fund
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? OUTFEST-LA / Los Angeles, USA - JULY 18-28, 2019 (world premiere); FLICKERS' RHODE ISLAND INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL / Rhode Island, USA - AUGUST 6-11, 2019; HOLLYSHORTS / Los Angeles, USA - AUGUST 8-17, 2019; SAO PAULO INTERNATIONAL SHORT FILM FESTIVAL / Sao Paulo, Brazil - AUGUST 21, 2019 to SEPTEMBER 1, 2019; THE JOYCE FORUM JEWISH SHORT FILM FESTIVAL / San Diego, USA - SEPTEMBER 21-22, 2019; The 2019 IRIS PRIZE BEST BRITISH SHORT / Cardiff, Wales - OCTOBER 8-13, 2019 (to be announced on August 20th, 2019).