''The Slut'' (, translit. Ha-Notenet) is a 2011 Israeli drama film directed by Hagar Ben-Asher. It stars Hagar Ben-Asher as the titular character,

Ishai Golan Ishai Golan (; born 22 November 1973) is an Israeli film and television actor. In 2010, he won the Israeli Television Academy award for Best Actor for playing Uri Zach in ''Prisoners of War'' (''Hatufim''). Early life He was born in Ramat Ga ...

, Icho Avital, Yoav Levi and Tsahi Hanan. The film premiered in May 2011 at the

Cannes Film Festival The Cannes Film Festival (; ), until 2003 called the International Film Festival ('), is the most prestigious film festival in the world. Held in Cannes, France, it previews new films of all genres, including documentaries, from all around ...

and featured in the

Critics' Week Critics' Week (), until 2008 called International Critics' Week ('), is a parallel section to the Cannes Film Festival organized by the French Syndicate of Cinema Critics. History Critics' week was created in 1962, after the French Syndicate of ...

Plot

Tamar, a promiscuous thirty-something, lives on a farm with her two daughters and occupies her spare time with a string of lovers. A new arrival in the village, changes everything. Shai, a veterinary surgeon, who treats one of her injured livestock, soon falls under her spell and they become romantically involved. This brings up questions such as - can she emotionally commit and does she have what it takes to survive a monogamous relationship?

Cast

* Hagar Ben-Asher as Tamar *

as Shai * Icho Avital * Yoav Levi * Tsahi Hanan

Production

The sex scene between Hagar Ben-Asher and Ishay Golan is highly debated. Many think that the penetration is not simulated, but the actor said it was only an illusion. "Did we have sex on camera? No. Our acting technique was really refined by the time we shot that scene, after so much rehearsal and repetition. We shot that scene on our final day, when our technique was at its absolute best. It was the culmination of a long process of working together, and I felt really safe," he said.

Release

The film premiered in May 2011 at the

and featured in the

. It won an award for Best Director at the 2011

Jerusalem Film Festival The Jerusalem Film Festival (, ) is an international film festival held annually in Jerusalem, It was established in 1984 by the Director of the Jerusalem Cinematheque and Israeli Film Archive, Lia van Leer, Lia Van Leer, and has since become th ...

and was entered into the director's category at the

Chicago International Film Festival The Chicago International Film Festival is an annual film festival held every fall. Founded in 1964 by Michael Kutza, it is the longest-running competitive film festival in North America. Its logo is a stark, black and white close up of the comp ...

later that year.

Reception

Todd McCarthy Todd McCarthy (born February 16, 1950) is an American film critic and author. He wrote for '' Variety'' for 31 years as its chief film critic until 2010. In October of that year, he joined ''The Hollywood Reporter'', where he subsequently served ...

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

described the film as "a slow-going, rather pointless Israeli drama about an attractive rural woman who just gotta have it. Notoriety of its title and content will attract some attention on the festival circuit and no doubt in Israel, but audiences will have that empty feeling afterwards." Alissa Simon writing for

Variety Variety may refer to: Arts and entertainment Entertainment formats * Variety (radio) * Variety show, in theater and television Films * ''Variety'' (1925 film), a German silent film directed by Ewald Andre Dupont * ''Variety'' (1935 film), ...

said that "''The Slut'' refrains from supplying audiences with an emotional hook; lissome cipher Tamar is all id. We have no idea what she thinks or why she behaves the way she does, except, perhaps, at the pic’s not unexpected but still not well-prepared conclusion." The film also won at the Torino Film Festival 2009 for Best Screenplay.

References

External links

* 2011 films Israeli drama films 2011 drama films 2010s Hebrew-language films {{2010s-drama-film-stub