‘A Tale of Love and Darkness’ to hit big screen

Focus World acquires rights to Amos Oz’s acclaimed novel

The Natalie Portman-starrer A Tale of Love and Darkness (ATOLAD) — which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival 2015 — is expected to be launched as a foreign language contender for next year’s Academy Awards. According to Hollywood Reporter, American film company Focus World has acquired official US rights to the movie and will be opening it in a platform theatrical release this year.

ATOLAD is based on a popular memoir by one of Israel’s most prominent writers, Amos Oz. The story revolves around a young mother (Portman) raising Oz (Amir Tessler), whose birth mother commits suicide when he is only 12. Portman’s character gradually sinks into depression. The book was originally written in Hebrew and later translated into 28 languages, has sold over a million copies worldwide.



The movie was initially considered a ‘tough-sell’ owing to its subject and the fact that it was in a foreign language but Portman’s star power came to its rescue. The Israeli-born actor is said to have met with the author of the book in person for better adaptation of the screenplay.

“This [ATOLAD] has been my passion for almost a decade now since I read Amos Oz’s masterful book and knew I wanted to adapt it into a film,” said Portman. “I’m so proud and feel so lucky, that the film we made will be distributed by Focus World. It is a great honor to have their brand of thoughtful distribution delivering the film into the world.”

The critically acclaimed Oscar contender was shot in Jerusalem and has been produced by Ram Bergman and David Mandil.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 9^th, 2016.

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