“Highway 65,” the feminist and confusing thriller from Israeli director Maya Dreifuss

The director makes her characters evolve in a kind of closed-door environment. No one is happy, but none of them would like to disrupt their daily lives. “Highway 65”, an original film, carried by a formidable actress.

The character, embodied by the breathtaking Tali Sharon is very endearing. The tone is set from the first images. Inspector Daphna, single, childless, determined, self-confident, does not bother with social codes. Transferred from Tel Aviv to Afula, a small town in the north of the country, for having leaked information to the press, she finds herself investigating alone the disappearance of Orly Elimelech, a former beauty queen.

Her entourage tries to dissuade her from continuing her investigations by presenting the victim as a moody person, unstable since the death of her husband. Close to the powerful Golan family, Orly’s disappearance nevertheless arouses only indifference. But Daphna is tenacious, even if it means putting herself in danger.

It all starts with Orly’s cell phone found in a field. The more Daphna persists in her investigation, the more her social and professional environment reminds her of her condition as a woman. Why doesn’t she have children? Would she like to have some? Why doesn’t she have a man in her life? From the balcony of her apartment overlooking a pristine valley, Daphna seems to doubt and then resumes her fight and mocks social injunctions. Tali Sharon is inhabited by her role, both powerful and fragile. Maya Dreifuss has created a very endearing character. After She Is Coming Homeshe paints an uncompromising portrait of a society in the grip of its paradoxes.

The wounds are hidden and the suffering is silenced. Daphna, at her own risk, refuses this policy of “no waves” and demands the truth, in the absence of justice. Highway 65Grand Jury Prize at the 4th Reims Crime Film Festival, an original feature film, carried by a formidable actress.

Title : Highway 65

Realization : Maya Dreifuss

Language : Hebrew with French subtitles

Distribution : Tali Sharon, Igal Naor, Idan Amedi and Boaz Konforty

Duration : 1h48

Theatrical release: July 31, 2024