The Hollywood Reporter by David Rooney
The maturity of the directorial voice is evident in its clear-eyed, rigorously unsentimental assessment of a shattering situation.
✭ ✭ ✭ ✭ Read critic reviews
Israel · 2021
1h 25m
Director Ruthy Pribar
Starring Alena Yiv, Shira Haas, Tamir Mula, Gera Sandler
Genre Drama
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Asia is the single mother of 17-year-old Vika. Motherhood has never come easily to her, and she spends most of her time working as a nurse while Vika hangs out at the skate park. But Vika's deteriorating health urges Asia to finally make peace with her role, support Vika, and cherish their time together.
The Hollywood Reporter by David Rooney
The maturity of the directorial voice is evident in its clear-eyed, rigorously unsentimental assessment of a shattering situation.
The New York Times by Devika Girish
Asia and Vika struggle to emerge as full-fleshed characters from the movie’s dull, blue-grey frames, while the script rushes through provocative plot turns in its bleak procession toward a wrenching conclusion.
Pribar’s subtle movie eschews sentimentalism for a patient and inquisitive character study, mining familiar territory and rejuvenating it with emotional impact that worms its way into the material from unexpected places.
From Daniella Nowitz’s muted, intimately lit lensing to the plaintive, judiciously used piano strains of Karni Postel’s score, every formal element of Asia serves to illustrate and enrich the tricky, evolving relationship at its center — brushing, rather than milking, the viewer’s tear ducts along the way.
Los Angeles Times by Katie Walsh
Pribar’s humane and heartbreaking drama is beautifully photographed and performed; a loving, warm, and even sexy film about death and dying that is teeming with life.
The Guardian by Peter Bradshaw
This is a candid, sober, well-acted debut by the first-time director Ruthy Pribar.
The Observer (UK) by Wendy Ide
This impressive Israeli feature debut from Ruthy Pribar stars a mesmerising Shira Haas.
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