Archive of films Matter of Size / Sipur Gadol

Israel / Germany / France
2009, 90 min

Section: Another View
Year: 2009

Four friends decide that dieting is for the birds, and they determine to become sumo wrestlers. Their efforts provide laughs for this "message comedy,” while moments of tension are provided by a romantic subplot. Will the woman or the sport win out? Can obese protagonists break down social barriers? Can sumo wrestlers win the hearts of festival audiences?

Synopsis

Love, laughter, and sumo wrestling. Why bother with dieting when you can step into the ring? Four friends come to a realization that ultimately introduces numerous comic situations, and calls attention to the social pressures bearing down on overweight people. The movie uses sumo wrestling as a tool of recognition and revolt within our diet-obsessed world, and also shows the sport as a means of coming to terms with personal problems. Can sumo help the protagonists better their social situation and bring peace to their disordered lives? Each of the characters conceals secrets and personality quirks that allow the film to build interest, laughter, and tension. The filmmakers don’t let any chances for humor slip by, and they make the most of pratfalls, comic counterpoint, and verbal exchanges. Nevertheless, neither do they shy away from entertaining considerations about death. Although their protagonists are overweight, they don’t use this fact to start sneering, and despite their understanding for the heroes’ plight, they never resort to false compassion.

About the director

Erez Tadmor (b. 1974, Herzlia, Israel) graduated in film from Camera Obscura School of Arts in Tel Aviv, and his first short, Moosh (2001), was presented at 40 festivals, winning at many. In 2003, he took part in the Berlinale Talent Campus. Another short he codirected, Strangers (2004), competed at Sundance and became the basis of his feature debut of the same name (2008). A Matter of Size is the director’s second feature.

Sharon Maymon (Ramle, Israel) studied film at Camera Obscura School of Arts in Tel Aviv where his graduation project was the short Holes (2000). In 2005, he was a writer for the Israeli TV sitcom "Sketch Show”, and he followed this up with the 40-minute film Mortgage (2006), which he co-wrote and co-directed. For his feature directorial debut, A Matter of Size, Maymon also chalked up story and co-screenwriting credits. He is currently at work on the black comedy My Sweet Euthanasia.

Contacts

K5 International
Konradinstrasse 5, 815 43, München
Germany
Tel: +49 893 750 5590
Fax: +49 893 750 559 05
E-mail: [email protected]
www: www.k5international.com

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About the film

Color, 35 mm
European premiere

Section:	Another View

Director:	Erez Tadmor, Sharon Maymon
Screenplay:	Sharon Maymon, Danny Cohen-Solal
Dir. of Photography:	David Gurfinkel
Music:	Eyal Leon Katzav
Editor:	Einat Glaser-Zarhin
Producer:	Chilik Michaeli, Avraham Pirchi, Tami Leon, Oliver Simon, Daniel Baur
Production:	UCM films, K5 International, Mact Productions
Cast:	Itzik Cohen, Irit Kaplan, Dvir Benedek, Levana Finkelstein, Alon Dahan, Shmulik Cohen, Evelin Hagoel, Togo Igawa, Yuki Iwamoto, Ofira Rahamim
Contact:	K5 International

Guests

Erez Tadmor

Film Director

Sharon Maymon

Film Director

Itzik Cohen

Actor

Oda Schaefer

Producer