"Independence" in Cinema: The New Israeli Film Sweeping Theaters During the Holidays

The film "Independence," a comedy-drama by director Moshe Rosenthal, is the biggest hit in Israeli cinemas during the month of the Tishrei holidays. The film is set in 1987 with a jump to 1997, and follows a family that is shaken by a secret a 12-year-old boy discovers about his father. The film is breaking records with 16 nominations for the 2026 Ophir Awards, including the return of Asi Cohen to the big screen after 15 years.

The film "Independence," a comedy-drama by director Moshe Rosenthal, is the biggest hit in Israeli cinemas during the month of the Tishrei holidays. The plot takes place in 1987 with a time jump to 1997, and deals with a family shaken by a secret that Boaz, a 12-year-old boy, discovers about his father. A decade later, the adult Boaz is still haunted by the event and embarks on a journey to confront the ghosts of the past, while the mother tries to keep the family from falling apart. The film, which has already opened the Jerusalem Film Festival and competed at the prestigious Sundance Festival, is now receiving widespread acclaim. It is breaking records with 16 nominations for the 2026 Ophir Awards, including nominations for the lead actors. Alongside the young actor Ido Tako, Asi Cohen appears in his first film role in 15 years, alongside Keren Tzur who plays the mother in a complex and captivating role. Over three weeks of filming in Holon, the actors entered complex family situations. For Rosenthal, who received praise for his previous film "Karaoke," this is another step forward for Israeli cinema.