LOGLINE
How low must one go in order to climb up, when planning for the future is considered a luxury? Street-smart Liz finds family and future at the most unexpected place - checkpoints on the West Bank-Israeli border.
SYNOPSIS
The story of Liz Angel (22), who starts working at the checkpoints – where only the truly desperate work. For her it’s a perfect job: her co-workers come from similar backgrounds as her, and the position includes free food, transportation and housing, in a small shared trailer which soon turns into her own little slice of heaven. Her genuine home keeps pulling her back in, and her parents’ piling debts demand. What starts out as a small scale smuggling from the West Bank into Israel, will soon blow out of proportion.
WRITER'S STATEMENT
Crossing The Line is inspired by my experience as a soldier inspecting at checkpoints. It offers a look at young people today, coming from impoverished backgrounds on both sides of the border, willing to do whatever it takes for a better life. They are risking their jobs, national security and loved ones’ safety. Considering others is a privilege to those busy surviving. It’s a story of survival on life’s sidelines. Bringing this world to the screen from a feminine POV is a mission to me.
ABOUT THE WRITER
Director, screenwriter and casting director. Two-time nominee of the Ophir Awards. Her short film, “TIME OUT”, won the L.A Holly Shorts Best Thriller Award and was nominated for an Ophir Award. Today, Rita is about to start filming her debut full feature film “YOUNG MOTHER” – which won grants and awards and was developed at the Nantes Film Workshop (France). “CHECKPOINTS”, full length film, has won various awards -Haifa Film Festival, Cyprus ME Film Festival, WIFTI International and Sam Spiegel Film Lab, as well as receiving the Rabinovitch Fund development grant.
PRODUCER'S STATEMENT
Rita’s story is based on her own, not simple life experience. Rita's POV is a unique feminine look that brings a new voice of young people who have under zero chances nowdays in Israel to make something of their lives. The story setting is placed brilliantly by Rita, at the checkpoints– an explosive point of emotions in the heart of the conflict of our region. Rita has won the right to tell this story.
PRODUCER PROFILE
Rita’s story is based on her own, not simple life experience. Rita's POV is a unique feminine look that brings a new voice of young people who have under zero chances nowdays in Israel to make something of their lives. The story setting is placed brilliantly by Rita, at the checkpoints– an explosive point of emotions in the heart of the conflict of our region. Rita has won the right to tell this story.
PRODUCTION CONTACT DETAILS
Osnat.Saraga@paramount.com
+972-525424285