COME CLOSER

Israel, 2024, 107 minutes, Colour.

Lia Elaiouf, Darya Rosenn, Netta Garti, Ido Tako.

Directed by Tom Nesher.

While this is definitely an Israeli story, its themes and characters are universal. And, in many ways, it is quite disturbing.

We are introduced to an engaging young man, cycling, a momentary accident, and his being kidnapped – in fact, by his sister, for a rather wild beach party to celebrate his birthday. But, during the night he moves away in order to meet up with his girlfriend, a secret from his family. And, in a dire accident, he is killed.

While he does appear in some flashbacks, this is very much a film about his sister and her relationship with her brother. She is an intense personality, frequently alienating the audience, consumed by grief at her brother’s death, but in her interactions, with the family and friends, she makes the grief and the event all about her. She is eccentric, moody, conscious of her hair, colour and style, make up, appearance and impact, but hardly aware of the alienating behaviour she exhibits towards most people, her mother and father long divorced, some devotion to her father, impatience with her mother with whom she lives.

It would seem that brother and sister had a strong co-dependence – but, as it begins to be revealed, dependence on her part rather than his.

The main part of the action, now a psychological drama, a portrait of a young woman in self-centred distress, discovering her brother’s girlfriend, pursuing her, the girlfriend somewhat apprehensive, but the beginning of an association, some friendship, again the possibilities of mutual dependence.

This relationship certainly changes the young girlfriend and challenges her stability. And the relationship certainly changes the sister, medically, and sometimes melodramatically, forcing her to become self-aware as she discovers the truth about her brother, his plans, his relationship, and his secrecy from the rest of the family.

Very much in the atmosphere of Israel, the city of Tel Aviv and an excursion to the Sinai. But, the main locations are in the psyche of the central characters.

1. An Israeli story? An international story? Relationships, intensity?
2. The Israeli settings, the city of Tel Aviv, the countryside, the visit to Sinai, the coast? The musical score?
3. The title, relationships, intensity, seduction, subjugation, self-assertion and reconciliation?
4. The situation, Nati, on his bike, Not by the car, his arrest, abducted, his group of friends, on the beach, his birthday, the drinking, drugs, wild music and dancing, asleep, the intensity of his relationship with Eden? Her organising the celebration? His leaving during the night? His being killed in the accident? The visit to the hospital, his funeral?
5. The focus on Eden, her age, her appearance, hair, make up, relationship with her mother, father, the divorce, long since, the argument about the house? Her seeing Maya at the funeral, wondering?
6. The relationship between Nati and Eden, their parents’ divorce, their dependence, the pact, the effect on Nati, growing up, the secret relationship with Maya? Eden, keeping the pact, her jealousy, obsessions?
7. The character of Eden, the relationship with Nati, possessive, self-centred, her narcissistic attitudes, sociopathic behaviour? Confronting Maya at the bowls, following her, her motivations?
8. The character of Maya, the relationship with Nati, secrecy, her knowing about the family, confronted by Eden, the interrogation, her explanations, the exams and plans, at Eden upset at not knowing?
9. The background of the discussions with her parents, not paying attention at the meeting, the issue of the house? Her relationship with each parent? Her father story about the naming of his restaurant?
10. The meetings with Maya, Maya and her character, with her mother of the funeral, leaving, apprehensive about Eden, eventually the meetings, the discussions, confidentiality, meeting at the room, Eden and her putting on her brother’s clothes at the Shiva occasion? The tent and Maya’s gift, sitting in the tent, the collapse?
11. The growing friendship, the meetings, mutual dependence? Maya relaxing? Decision to go to Sinai? The relationship, the intimacy, the kiss, the effect on Maya? Eden’s motivations? The episode with the young men, the dancing, Maya running away, affected by the kiss, puzzled? Loving Eden? The confrontation the water, Eden trying to drown Maya? Surviving, the return?
12. The aftermath, the effect of all this on Eden, losing the make up, becoming ordinary, staying with her mother?
13. The year anniversary, the gathering, the cemetery, Maya coming, the final talk, calm, the embrace, the future?
14. The audience pondering what it happened to Eden and this character change and development? And with Maya?