Tribeca 08′ Q&A: Liron Levo & DOP Ram Shweky (Strangers)

Strangers is a film about an impossible love between two tourists in Germany: one an Israeli man and the other a Palestinian woman. The film had its North American premiere last night and in typical New York fashion the two directors were stuck in traffic. This ended up being a blessing as the charming lead actor Liron Levo and Cinematographer Ram Shweky took the stage for the Q&A. The announcement that Levo was in the crowd sent waves of delight through the audience, who had obviously fallen for him. The actor, famous in Israel but virtually unknown in the States, became an instant star as 30 women surrounded him to get a picture and autograph.

“We did not have sex,” was Levo’s answer to an audience member’s delicate question about his chemistry with actress Lubna Azabal. “That’s what you were really asking, right?” he said after the woman blushed profusely and put her head in her hands. The audience was roaring with laughter and it continued as another woman asked if he was single. There was a long pause.  “Yes,” he replied.

I had the pleasure of running the Q&A, which was one of the funniest I’ve ever experienced at any festival.  And yes, this meant standing within 3 feet of the magnetizing Liron Levo. I asked if much of the film was improvised as the conversations were incredibly authentic. The actors primarily spoke in English, a second language for both of them. “Everything was improvised except for two political conversations which were scripted.”

The Cinematographer chimed in with anecdotes about being the one and only shooter, gaffer, focus puller, Best Boy, bag carrier…  When asked how he shot the scenes at a club where the actors are encircled by the camera he replied, “I put it on my shoulder and I walked this way and that way, and around…” Huge laughter and applause came from the audience.

They made the film in 16 days with virtually no budget. The film has played at Sundance and the Jerusalem Film festival and is sure to cause a big reaction when it opens in Israel this month. Less than a week ago, IFC Films picked up the picture for what will probably either be an autumn or year-end release.