FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
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Thais get a taste of Israel-style entertainment with comedy ‘Forgiveness’

Thais get a taste of Israel-style entertainment with comedy ‘Forgiveness’

In an effort to introduce Israeli entertainment to Thai audiences, the Embassy of Israel hosted a special film night on August 30 to entertain audiences with the comedy “Forgiveness” (Mechila).

Explaining why this comedy was chosen, Ambassador Orna Sagiv said: “We were looking for a film that is interesting globally. Something that speaks to the Israeli audience and one that we feel can also speak to the Thai audience. I think ‘forgiveness’ is universal.”

The film played to a full house at SF Cinema in Bangkok’s CentralWorld shopping mall. 

Thais get a taste of Israel-style entertainment with comedy ‘Forgiveness’

The comedy tells the story of two buddies Shual and Nissan, played by actors Guy Amir and Hanan Savyon, who had also written and directed the film. 

The two try to rob a postal bank but things go horribly wrong, with Shaul being collared by police and Nissan escaping with the loot.

Set in southern Israel on the Gaza border, the sound of incoming bombs and sirens add to the drama. 

Three years later, on his release from prison, Shaul is greeted by a newly religious Nissan who seeks his forgiveness, especially in light of the upcoming “10 Days of Awe” – Judaism’s most important holiday that focuses on repentance and forgiveness ending with Yom Kippur. 

Thais get a taste of Israel-style entertainment with comedy ‘Forgiveness’

The uneasy duo then launch a comedic journey hunting for the hidden stash but everything goes wrong, leaving the audience hoping they can find the money and eventually makeup. 

The film was released in 2019, selling more than 300,000 tickets in Israel over five weeks in theatre. It was dubbed a resounding success by the Jerusalem Post, which pointed out that most local films barely sell more than 100,000 tickets despite spending several months in theatre. 

The ambassador, however, believes Israeli films will do better in Thailand. 

“I think not only movies, but also TV series have become very popular, with Netflix offering a big bag of choices. I’m looking forward to Thai audiences enjoying more Israeli series that tell the story of Israel from the ground – something you don’t see in the news,” she said. “Israel has a lot of offer and I really hope the Thai audience gets exposure to that.”

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