In his usual comprehensive manner, Twitch's The Gomorrahizer gathered in one article a synoposis, links to the official web site, and a selection of trailers, so please click there to find out more about the film.
There are at least two ways to approach Danny Lerner's feature debut Frozen Days:
(1) As a psychological drama from Israel, it's a film that explores with probing insight the devastating after-effects of a bombing on a lonely Tel Aviv woman (Anat Klausner in a stunning performance).
(2) As a genre flick photographed in black and white, it's a cool mind-trip that's somewhat familiar but with the welcome twist of a beautiful Israeli drug dealer as the heroine, trying to make sense of her life in the terrorist age.
After a memorable introduction, the drug dealer heads off into the night on business. Things don't go as planned, but as the night wears on, events gather momentum until coming to an explosive conclusion. From that point onward, it's full speed ahead into an alien territory defined by a full-blown identity crisis.
In this section of the film, the drama becomes diffuse and loses its way a bit. The filmmakers have good ideas for what they want to accomplish -- the defining moment of the story was inspired by an actual event -- but it doesn't quite come together in a fully satisfying way. Perhaps if all the threads were pulled tighter, it would exert a more powerful cumulative effect.
That being said, the conclusion is very strong, even if it is reminiscent of a few other films familiar to genre fans. And you have to give filmmakers from Israel props for defying what one might expect to emerge from that region of the world.
In sum, this picture is the very definition of "promising" and worth seeking out if you make allowance for a few imperfections. Beyond that, Anat Klausner is alternately beguiling, bewildered, sensual -- and utterly convincing for every moment she's on screen.
It's also worth noting that Frozen Days was made on a miniscule budget at night over a four-month period while the filmmakers worked day jobs. It's the sort of heroic first feature -- everyone donated their time and energy -- that needs to be championed if you're to have any chance to see it.
