Full Description
An Israeli post-modern road movie with a nod to Tarantino, Wenders, and Antonioni, this spy thriller begins when the sultry Gary, an architect, returns to Israel from Berlin for his father's funeral. Almost immediately he discovers he has been tricked. His father, sentenced to prison years earlier as a Russian spy, has escaped and a couple of sardonically humorous cops are using Gary as bait to lead them to the old man. Things get better when he meets Tom, a lissome and mysterious actress, who energetically joins him in his search for his father. The chase against time and the police brings them to the starkly beautiful desert of the Negev where, in a dramatic climax, Gary is forced to face his estranged father and his past. Splendid cinematography details the architecture of the landscape; a metaphor for Gary's internal conflict. UNDER WESTERN EYES features the motion picture debut of Israeli rock star Eyal Schehter of "Avtipus," who plays Gary with appropriate angst and a sexy pout. Director Pitchadze brings his distinctive sensibility to his first feature film. The filmmaker emigrated to Israel in 1971 from the Georgian Republic of the former USSR. First Prize, 1996 Jerusalem Film Festival; 1997 Official Competition Berlin Film Festival.
Filmmaker Bio(s)
Director, Producer, and Screenwriter Joseph Pitchhadze was born in Tibilisi, Georgia, in 1965 and emigrated to Israel with his family at the age of five.
He is a B.F.A. graduate of the Tel-Aviv University Film Department. During his studies, he wrote, photographed, directed, and produced several short films, among them: Dreaming In Russian and Bad Days.
