Past Life

Front Row at the Movies by Shirrel Rhoades

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By definition, a cinematheque is typically a “small motion-picture theater that specializes in historically important, experimental, avant-garde, or art house films.” And that pretty much describes the Cinematheque series at Key West’s Tropic Cinema.

The latest offering is “Past Life,” a new film from Israeli director Avi Nesher (“The Wonders,” “Once I Was,” “The Matchmaker”). In it, two sisters delve into the secrets of their father’s former life in Poland during World War II.

The film’s Hebrew title “Ha-Khata’im” gives a hint — “The Sins.”

The younger sister (Joy Reiger) is an introverted classical musician; the other (Nelly Tagar) is a feisty tabloid journalist and aspiring playwright. One is burning with ambition; the other filled with angst. Opposites, they can’t help being bitter rivals.

But together they must deal with their father’s past, when a woman makes an accusation that threatens to split up their family. Of course, it has to do with the Holocaust.

Avi Nesher reportedly based the film on a true story.

The son of a Romanian diplomat and Russian-born mother, Nesher moved to the US in 1965. After studying international relations at Columbia University, he returned to Israel in 1971 where he served in the IDF elite special forces. In 1974 he directed and produced his first film (“The Band”). Nesher’s award-winning films have played a major part in Israeli cinema’s rise to prominence during the last decade. 

In “Past Life” one of the sisters goes on to solve the mystery, allowing reconciliation between her parents.

At times the film can seem a bit melodramatic, with crises being resolved at the last minute. You will encounter a jumble of themes and side plots. It glosses over questions of morality and forgiveness. But the bottom line is this simple: No one wants to be accused of being the daughter of a murderer.

Email Shirrel: srhoades@aol.com