Esau is a 2019 Russian-Israeli-British drama film directed by Pavel Lungin and starring Harvey Keitel and Shira Haas. It is based on Meir Shalev's novel of the same name.
This is Lungin's first English-language film. However, it is not the first film in which Lungin filmed and worked with Israeli actors; before it, he made the film "The Winner" and also directed the Russian adaptation Rodina of the series Prisoners of War.
The film tells the story of a 40-year-old writer who returns to his family home where he was raised, and he escaped after half a lifetime to face his brother, who stayed instead. After inheriting their family bakery and marrying the woman they both loved.
The film premiered at the 2019 Hong Kong Jewish Film Festival.
Contents
Plot
As a teenager, Asu fled to America. He denies his past but never established new roots. He writes successful books about baking bread, but he never became a true writer. He has no wife, no children, and his large house is empty. A late-night phone call changes his life. He hears a familiar female voice asking for his help. Twenty years later, he returns home. The head of the family was his brother Yaakov, who inherited their father's bakery, became a father of children, and is now the husband of the woman they both once dreamed of.
Cast
Shira Haas as Leah, Young Jacob's Wife
Harvey Keitel as Abraham, Esau and Jacob's Father
Omri Raveh as Young Abraham
Yuliya Peresild as Sarah, Esau and Jacob's Mother
Mark Ivanir as Jacob, Esau's Brother
Lion Ravich as Young Jacob
Kseniya Rappoport as Cheznous, Leah's Friend
Lior Ashkenazi as Esau, Jacob's Brother
Yoav Rotman as Young Esau
Omer Goldman 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 as Bulica
Oren Rehany as Doctor