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English Titles K

Kaddish for a Friend

Original title: Kaddish für einen Freund
German title: Kaddish für einen Freund
Germany, 2011

Director: Kashin, Leo
Production company: Martin Bach
Age recommendation: 13 years and up

Synopsis:
Growing up in a Palestinian refugee camp, the 14-year-old Ali Messalam learned to hate Jews at an early age. After escaping Lebanon, he and his family end up in Berlin-Kreuzberg. Here, he tries to fit in and longs for nothing more than to be accepted by his fellow Arab youths. But to gain this recognition, he has to prove himself. In a test of courage, he breaks into the apartment of his Russian neighbour Alexander Zamskoy, an 84-year-old Jewish second world war veteran. But Ali’s “friends” follow him into the apartment and vandalize the old man’s home with abandon. Alexander only recognizes Ali when he returns home earlier than expected and reports him to the police. To avoid being sentenced and deported, Ali is forced to seek out closeness to his enemy…

Festivals:
Giffoni 2011, Buster Copenhagen 2011, Castellinaria Bellinzona 2011 (awarded), BUFF Malmö 2012, Kristiansand 2012, Zlin 2012, Schlingel Chemnitz 2012, Festival Augenblick Strasbourg 2017

World sales address/es:
SiMa Film (DE)

Sold to:
Farbfilm-Verleih (DE)