''Esau'' is a 2019 Russian-Israeli-British drama film directed by

Pavel Lungin Pavel Semyonovich Lungin (russian: Па́вел Семёнович Лунги́н; born 12 July 1949) is a Russian film director. He is sometimes credited as Pavel Loungine (as in the American release of ''Tycoon''). Lungin was awarded the distin ...

and starring

Harvey Keitel Harvey Keitel ( ; born May 13, 1939) is an American actor. He is known for his portrayal of morally ambiguous and "tough guy" characters. He first rose to prominence during the New Hollywood movement, and has held a long-running association with ...

and

Shira Haas Shira Haas ( he, שירה האס; born ) is an Israeli actress. She initially gained national prominence for her roles in local film and television, having won two Israeli Ophir Awards out of five nominations since 2014. In 2020, she gained int ...

. It is based on

Meir Shalev Meir Shalev ( he, מאיר שלו; born 29 July 1948) is an Israeli writer and newspaper columnist for the daily Yedioth Ahronoth . Shalev's books have been translated into 26 languages. Biography Shalev was born in Nahalal, Israel. Later he ...

's novel of the same name. The film premiered at the 2019 Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival.

Premise

A 40-year-old writer returns to his family home where he was raised and that he escaped after half a lifetime, to face his brother who stayed instead. After

inheriting Inheritance is the practice of receiving private property, titles, debts, entitlements, privileges, rights, and obligations upon the death of an individual. The rules of inheritance differ among societies and have changed over time. Officially ...

their family

bakery A bakery is an establishment that produces and sells flour-based food baked in an oven such as bread, cookies, cakes, donuts, pastries, and pies. Some retail bakeries are also categorized as cafés, serving coffee and tea to customers who ...

and marrying the woman they both loved.

Cast

as Leah, Young Jacob's Wife *

as Abraham, Esau and Jacob's Father **Omri Raveh as Young Abraham *

Yuliya Peresild Yulia Sergeevna Peresild (russian: Юлия Сергеевна Пересильд; born 5 September 1984) is a Russian stage and film actress. She is the first professional actress to act in outer space after her spaceflight to the ISS in Octobe ...

as Sarah, Esau and Jacob's Mother *

Mark Ivanir Mark Alexandrovich Ivanir ( he, מארק איווניר; uk, Марк Олександрович Іванір; russian: Марк Александрович Иванир) is a Ukrainian-born Israeli actor known for his character roles on Americ ...

as Jacob, Esau's Brother **Lion Ravich as Young Jacob *

Kseniya Rappoport Kseniya Aleksandrovna Rappoport (russian: link=no, Ксе́ния Алекса́ндровна Раппопо́рт; born 25 March 1974) is a Russian actress. She graduated in 2000 from Saint Petersburg Academy of Theatrical Arts and was immedi ...

as Cheznous, Leah's Friend *

Lior Ashkenazi Lior Ashkenazi ( he, ליאור אשכנזי; born 28 December 1968) is an Israeli actor, voice actor, comedian and television presenter. Biography Lior Ashkenazi was born in Ramat Gan, Israel, and grew up in the Neveh Yehoshua neighborhood. His ...

as Esau, Jacob's Brother **Yoav Rotman as Young Esau *

Omer Goldman Omer Goldman Granot, from the Tel-Aviv suburb of Ramat HaSharon, is an Israeli actress. She was a member of the Shministim, a young Israeli conscientious objector who became famous for being the daughter of Naftali Granot, former deputy to Mossad ...

as Romi, Leah and Jacob's Daughter * Helena Yaralova as Tzviah, Leah's Mother * Valery Smirnov as Michael, Grandfather * Lola S. Frey as Kafrit *

Gila Almagor Gila Almagor Agmon ( he, גילה אלמגור אגמון; born Gila Alexandrowitz; July 22, 1939) is an Israeli actress, film star, and author. In Israel, she is known as "queen of the Israeli cinema and theatre". Biography Gila Alexandrowitz (A ...

as Bulica * Oren Rehany as Doctor

References

External links

* * 2010s English-language films English-language Russian films 2010s Russian-language films Israeli drama films British drama films Russian drama films 2019 drama films 2019 films Films based on Israeli novels Films directed by Pavel Lungin 2019 multilingual films British multilingual films Israeli multilingual films Russian multilingual films Esau Films based on the Hebrew Bible 2010s British films {{Israel-film-stub