Jellyfish - vom Meer getragen (Jellyfish, Meduzot) 
France/Israel
2007
Opening 13 Mar 2008
Directed by:
Shira Geffen
Writing credits:
Shira Geffen
Principal actors:
Sarah Adler, Tsipor Aizen, Bruria Albek, Ilanit Ben-Yaakov, Assi Dayan
The lives of three Israeli women in their 30s are interwoven, although they never meet. Keren is the bride out of hell on her honeymoon. She breaks her leg at the post-wedding party and makes life miserable for her new husband as they holiday at the beach. She is a whiner and always was: it’s too hot, too cold, too loud, she can’t go swimming. Luckily, her husband has a heart of gold and can comply with her wishes. Lonely Batya has no one: her boyfriend has moved out; her mother makes a career of helping strangers, but overlooks her own daughter’s neediness. One day a small child emerges from the sea and befriends Batya. Is the child real or a symbol of compassion? Joy from the Philippines works for a cranky old lady. Their relationship is strenuous, but they learn from each other and both are reunited with their respective children in the end.
Based on a story by Etgar Keret, who directed along with Shira Geffen, these three stories could each stand alone. The title symbolizes the way the three women swim through life: suspended, floating, not always in control of their fates. Jellyfish won best film by a newcomer at the 2007 Cannes film festival. (Becky Tan)
