Elad Keidan’s ‘Of Our Economical Situation’ Part of Cannes’ 2011 L’Atelier

In its’ nearly twenty-five years of existence, the Sam Spiegel Film School in Jerusalem has become one of the best film schools in the world, a true garden patch of talented filmmakers have studied here. Equipped with the tools to create deep some of this country’s moving films, several of the short films made by graduates have travelled the world to critical success. However, the school has also earned the belittling nickname “Same Spiegel”, for most of the short films created by students of the school were simple dramas (esp. family dramas) with clear conflicts. Nir Bergman (Broken Wings, Intimate Grammar), a graduate of the school, is the perfect example of the Sam Spiegel method – creating very well made family dramas.

But in recent years that façade has been cracked. Short films of Sam Spiegel graduates turned to more experimental genres. Benjamin Freidenberg’s Guided Tour, which won Best Film at the international Student film festival in Tel Aviv in 2010 is a contemplative ride through the streets of Jerusalem, delivering the feeling of loneliness in a very authentic manner. With a series of long shots following one man going to the grocery store to buy some milk in Jerusalem, Elad Keidan’s 2008 Hymn won the first prize in 08’s Cannes’ Cinéfondation. All the shots on that short were shot from afar, and the little things that happened to the character on his way to do the most everyday activity gave the film the unique Jacques Tati touch.

Last week it was announced that Elad Keidan’s Of Our Economical Situation will be presented in this year’s prestigious Cannes’ L’atelier program in an attempt to raise funds. Hymn described one man’s wandering through the streets of Jerusalem. In his debut feature, Elad Keinan intends to travel through the streets of Haifa. Here is the premise of the film found on prod co. Ez Films’ site:

Elad, winner of the Cinéfondation 1st prize in Cannes 2008 for his acclaimed short film Hymn, is writing his debut feature. A man climbs the stairs which lead from the lower city to the heights of the Carmel Mountain, looking for his wife’s lost earring. A sensitive and naive quest for spirituality set in the pastoral, never before filmed setting of Haifa’s 1000 stairways.