Greenwich Entertainment Acquires ‘Come Closer’, Israel’s Oscar Entry For Best International Feature

Nancy Tartaglione
·2-min read

EXCLUSIVE: Greenwich Entertainment has acquired U.S. and Canada distribution rights to Come Closer, which is Israel’s submission to the Best International Feature Oscar race.

From director Tom Nesher and based loosely on incidents from her own life, the film recounts the sometimes twisted, sometimes comic and surprising aftermath that followed her young brother’s death. Nesher, daughter of renowned Israeli director Avi Nesher, took inspiration for the storyline from Ari Nesher, who was killed in a 2018 hit-and-run accident at age 17.

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In the film, the only person Eden (Lia Elalouf) has ever really loved is her teenage brother, Nati. There are no secrets between them – or so Eden believes. When Nati is killed in a car accident, Eden discovers he had a secret girlfriend named Maya (Darya Rosenn). Eden embarks on a clandestine investigation, stalking Maya, befriending her and ultimately developing an obsession that pulls Maya into her own life, hoping that their shared love for Nati somehow will keep him alive.

Come Closer won the Best Film prize at Israel’s Ophir Film Awards in September; it was nominated in 12 categories and also clinched wins for Best Director, Best Actress and Best Editing.

The film world premiered at Tribeca this year, winning the Viewpoint Award. It made its Israeli premiere at the Jerusalem Film Festival in July.

Written and directed by Tom Nesher and also starring Netta Garti, Jacob Zada Daniel, Shlomi Shaban, Ido Tako, Ofek Pesach, and Yael Shoshana Cohen, the film is produced by Haim Mecklberg, Estee Yacov-Mecklberg, Domenico Procacci, Laura Paolucci, Moshe and Leon Edery, Anthony Bregman, Oren and Omer Rogovin, Omri and Karni Bezalel, & Tomer Mecklberg. Exec producers are Ivan Fiorini, Marica Stocchi, Yigal Mograbi and Schaul Scherzer.

Says Ed Arentz, Co-President of Greenwich Entertainment, “We’re so pleased to release Tom Nesher’s preternaturally assured debut that mines her own personal trauma to forge a deeply affecting and relatable tale of flaming youth confronting sudden loss and unexpected connection.

Tom Nesher adds: “Nietzsche said, ‘When you gaze long into the abyss, the abyss gazes also into you.’ Fighting the urge to never move on from my brother’s death, I wrote a film that looks into the abyss, finding not only immense pain but also complexity, beautiful memories, youthful energy, humor and even romance. … Now, with Greenwich Entertainment acquiring and distributing Come Closer, I’m thrilled to share this story with anybody who lost love and tried to regain it.”

Raffaella Di Giulio of Fandango Sales negotiated the deal with Ed Arentz of Greenwich Entertainment.

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