Amos Guttman (; 10 May 1954 – 16 February 1993) was an Israeli film director, born in
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
. He directed the first-ever Israeli
LGBT
LGBTQ people are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or questioning. Many variants of the initialism are used; LGBTQIA+ people incorporates intersex, asexual, aromantic, agender, and other individuals. The gro ...
-themed film and most of his films were based on events that happened in his own personal life.
Biography
Guttman was born in
Sita Buzăului
Sita Buzăului () is a commune in Covasna County, in the geographical region of Transylvania, Romania. It is composed of four villages: Crasna (''Bodzakraszna''), Merișor (''Almás''), Sita Buzăului, and Zăbrătău (''Zabrató'').
Geography
T ...
, district of
Covasna
Covasna (, , , ) is a town in Covasna County, Transylvania, Romania, at an altitude of . It is known for its natural mineral waters and mofettas.
The town administers one village, Chiuruș (). The village has a population of 451 and has an abs ...
, in
Transylvania
Transylvania ( or ; ; or ; Transylvanian Saxon dialect, Transylvanian Saxon: ''Siweberjen'') is a List of historical regions of Central Europe, historical and cultural region in Central Europe, encompassing central Romania. To the east and ...
,
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...
and emigrated to
Israel
Israel, officially the State of Israel, is a country in West Asia. It Borders of Israel, shares borders with Lebanon to the north, Syria to the north-east, Jordan to the east, Egypt to the south-west, and the Mediterranean Sea to the west. Isr ...
at the age of seven with his family. He studied film at Beit Zvi. Between 1975 and 1982, Guttman directed three short films: ''A Safe Place'', ''Returning Premiers'', and ''Drifting''. In 1983, he directed his feature debut, '' Drifting'' (no relation to the earlier short film). He then directed three other feature films: '' Bar 51'' (1985), '' Himmo, King of Jerusalem'' (1987), and ''
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn written in 1772 and published in 1779 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is possibly the most sung and most recorded hymn in the world, and especially popular in the Unit ...
'' (1992).
Guttman was an openly
gay
''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late ...
1947–1949 Palestine war
The 1948 Palestine war was fought in the territory of what had been, at the start of the war, British-ruled Mandatory Palestine. During the war, the British withdrew from Palestine, Zionism, Zionist forces conquered territory and established ...
, based on a story by
Yoram Kaniuk
Yoram Kaniuk (; May 2, 1930 – June 8, 2013) was an Israeli writer, painter, journalist, and theatre critic.
Biography
Yoram Kaniuk was born in Tel Aviv. His father, , was the first curator of Tel Aviv Museum of Art and was born in Ternopi ...
—explored aspects of life for LGBT individuals, including
AIDS
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
, which was the subject of his last film, ''Amazing Grace''. Many Israeli actors made breakthrough performances in Guttman's films, including
Jonathan Sagall
Jonathan Sagall (; born 23 April 1959) is a Canadian-born Israeli actor, director, producer and screenwriter.Alon Abutbul, Sharon Alexander, Aki Avni, and Rivka Michaeli.
Guttman was part of a group of young Israeli directors who called for quality films at the expense of commercial cinema. While he was an active director, He created a rich and stylish cinematic language, providing a unique sound. His films were notable for his attention to the visual and his distinct content.
Death
Guttman died in
Tel Aviv
Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...
on 16 February 1993, of
AIDS
The HIV, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that attacks the immune system. Without treatment, it can lead to a spectrum of conditions including acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). It is a Preventive healthcare, pr ...
Even after his death, Guttman remains among the most influential people in Israel’s LGBT community.
In 2013, the gay-themed drama film '' Snails in the Rain'', directed by Yariv Mozer, was dedicated in Guttman's memory.
In 2024, ''Taboo'', a documentary by Shauly Melamed about Guttman and his work was released.TABOO - Amos Guttman San Francisco Jewish Film Festival. Retrieved on 5 July 2024
Filmography
Cinema
*''Drifting'' (1975) - Short film
*''Returning Premiers'' (1976) - Short film
*''A Safe Place'' (1977) - Short film
*'' Drifting'' (1983)
*'' Bar 51'' (1985)
*'' Himmo, King of Jerusalem'' (1988)
*''
Amazing Grace
"Amazing Grace" is a Christian hymn written in 1772 and published in 1779 by English Anglican clergyman and poet John Newton (1725–1807). It is possibly the most sung and most recorded hymn in the world, and especially popular in the Unit ...