Eviatar Banai is an artist who has reached an unparalleled, transcendent status in Israeli culture, articulating the heartbeat and yearnings of the nation. Banai writes and sings about himself, yet a vast public of Israelis adults and youth, religious and secular, Ashkenazi and Mizrahi find their own reflections within his music. They have turned his songs into anthems and prayers, finding solace and profound meaning in them.
In his personal life, Banai embodies a dual identity, living an internal conflict: In his "Jewish" identity, he is a devout ultra-Orthodox (Haredi) man who strictly observes religious commandments and studies in a Yeshiva for six hours every day. In his "Israeli" identity, he is a rock star who sells out arenas, drawing a broad and fiercely loyal audience. He is a rock star with a kippah, tzitzit, and a guitar, who seeks to open the gates of heaven through his music and sanctify God's name (Kiddush Hashem) on stage.
"A Chance to Be Saved" is a monumental television series filmed over the course of 11 years, encompassing an unprecedented 240 days of shooting.
Watching the series is a time-traveling experience, navigating the peaks and abysses of Eviatar's life, alongside an intimate journey into his consciousness. It raises profound questions that resonate in every person's life, especially in these times: What constitutes a life of value and meaning? What is true love? By what values should we raise our children? How does one grow from shattered pieces? How do we find light within the darkness? How do we transmute pain into compassion?
"A Chance to Be Saved" is a sweeping, epic television series about creation, inspiration, and faith. It is the journey of a man who lost his way, only to find his God and the love of his life in the heart of darkness.
Doron Tsabari (62) is a documentary film and television director, a social activist, and a Professor of Film and Television at the School of Audio and Visual Arts at Sapir College.
Tsabari has directed 11 documentary films and series and has won a record-breaking 6 Best Director awards from the Israeli Academy of Film and Television (the "Israeli Oscars"). Five of the films and series he created are included in the Israeli Ministry of Education's mandatory curriculum for matriculation exams in cinema and media studies.
Among the notable films and series Tsabari has directed: Dricks' Brother (with Ori Inbar), Underdog (with Rino Zror), Shuli's Guy, The King of Rating, A Guide to the Revolution, Mechubarot (Connected - Women), Mechubarim (Connected - Men), The Silver Platter, and more.
The series will be screened in sequence:
Thursday, March 5th at 19:00, Episodes 1-3 (190 minutes, with a break between episodes 2 and 3).
Friday, March 6th at 11:00, Episode 4, followed by a conversation with the series creator, Doron Tsabari (Screening: 65 min | Conversation: 45 min).
Click here for tickets to both screenings: ₪ 60 | Institute employees: ₪ 50
