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LOGLINE
An ultra-Orthodox PI from Brooklyn is hired by a young widow to find her missing brother-in-law to perform a "Halitza," a religious ceremony that frees her from the obligation to marry her late husband's brother, thus freeing her to remarry
SYNOPSIS
Simcha (40), An ultra-Orthodox PI from Brooklyn, is hired by a young widow to find her missing brother-in-law for a "Halitza” ceremony. The case takes a dark turn when he discovers his client is an impostor and that her operator was murdered. Now the prime suspect, Simcha embarks on a fateful journey to find the mysterious brother and clear his name. This leads him all the way to Hamburg's secular nightlife, where he finds himself embroiled in a deep corrupted inheritance battle within a large Hasidic court and uncovers a secret bigger than expected.
WRITER'S STATEMENT
The Widow’s Detective is a Jewish and cynical version of American film noir movies from the 1930s and 1940s and neo-noir films from the 1970s to the present day. The encounter of this genre with the mysterious, closed, crowded, and non-individualistic ultra-Orthodox enclave of Williamsburg creates a connection that produces an ironic gap filled with dark and mysterious tones. This world becomes both a haven and a prison for characters who navigate secrets and have clashing expectations. With high-contrast lighting in narrow alleys and dimly-lit yeshivas, the series explores faith and identity amid mystery. It's Shtisel meets Chinatown, probing the tension between modernity and tradition.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Boaz Frankel, a director, editor, and screenwriter, was raised in a religious Jewish family but now identifies as secular and resides in Tel Aviv. He won the Israeli Television Award for directing the series REHEARSELS, which was later sold to Hulu. His diploma film 212 won the Best Student Film Award at the San Sebastian Film Festival. His short film KILOMETER 147 won the Israeli Academy Award for Best Short Film. Frankel studied filmmaking at Sam Spiegel Film School and video art at Bezalel Academy of Arts.
PRODUCER'S STATEMENT
When we encountered Boaz Frankel's previous works, it was clear to us that he had a unique vision and a deep understanding of the complexities within the worlds he portrays and we were very eager to work with him on this project. "The Widow's Detective" stands out by merging the intricacies of a Hasidic Jewish community with the timeless appeal of a film noir detective story. This fusion offers a fresh and distinctive perspective. Boaz’s film noir-inspired lens adds depth and intensity, promising a visually striking and emotionally compelling experience that we believe will captivate audiences worldwide. We are incredibly excited to bring this project to light and share it with the audience.
PRODUCER PROFILE
Spiro Films, co-founded in 2013 by Eitan Mansuri and Jonathan Doweck, is a Tel-Aviv-based production company creating films and scripted TV for Israeli and international markets. Their productions include NO MAN'S LAND (Hulu/Arte), FOXTROT (Venice Grand Jury Prize, Oscar shortlist), WHEN HEROES FLY (remade for Apple TV as Echo 3), THE OPERATIVE (Berlinale selection), and HERE WE ARE (Cannes selection). Spiro Films is a member of The Creatives, an alliance of ten international production companies.
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