"The Parasite" is inspired by Michal Sela's case. She was a social worker who was leading a double life. Her murder shocked everyone around her. She had never told a soul about the abuse she was suffering in the hands of her husband, Eliran. As bad as it was, he had never raised a hand on her, and therefore she wasn’t aware of just how dangerous he is and didn’t recognize the signs that started from the beginning of their relationship. Having volunteered in the Michal Sela Forum, I had the privilege of getting to know her family from up close. In this process, I learned that emotional, financial and physical abuse usually have the same patterns and signs. Women from all across the country, of all races, religions and classes are paying a much too heavy price, and the spotlight needs to be shifted. In her manifest (titled “The Parasite”), Lili Ben-Ami explains this principle well by comparing the murdering husband to a parasite: “The parasite lacks means to sustain its own life, and feeds on the other, the stronger, which acts as a host. The parasite clings onto the powerful, compassionate host and turns her into its food, sucking his life force from her.” Lili, who is Michal’s sister and head of The Michal Sela Forum, will act as the series consultant.
So, what brings a successful young woman, whose life’s work revolves around helping women, fall into a destructive relationship with an abusive man? And on the other hand, what tragic chain of events turns a man into a full-on narcissist and even a murderer? What happens behind closed doors, just before the murder takes place? Are all women in danger of being murdered and all men in danger of becoming murderers? "The Parasite" will allow viewers a glimpse of this subject from an angle less explored; through daily life, the destructive dynamic that repeats itself over and over again. There will be moments when this outcry will be hard to bear, but my hope is that it will shed light on the matter and do some justice to all those strong women who only wanted to be loved.