Rafael, an ex-orthodox living in France, returns to his family home after years of estrangement. On the way he stops at an orthodox store to buy a black suit & hat. He cannot come home without this costume. He's broke, and in desperation, steals the suit from the saleswoman. This act of dishonesty sends Rafael's dysfunctional family on a journey toward the truth, which will force Rafael to redefine his identity.
Director: Aya Somech
Script: Michal Vinik , Aya Somech
Producer: Yoav Roeh, Aurit Zamir
Duration: 92 min
Year: 2010
Status: In production
Format: RED
Language: Hebrew, French
Partners: Rabinovitch film fund, Jerusalem film fund
Raphael Krupik ran all the way to Marseilles, France, to escape his ultra orthodox family. He lives a secular life there with his Christian girlfriend and her son from a previous marriage. Seven years after he left home, Raphael’s younger brother is getting married. Raphael takes advantage of the event to visit his parents in Jerusalem. He needs this visit: he is up to his ears in debt and has no other choice but to ask his father for money. Raphael cannot be sure his parents will accept him. His having turned his back on his faith resulted in a rift with his family, a rift that has lasted for seven years. Since Raphael lives abroad, and given his adverse relationship with his father, his parents didn’t tell their younger son, Elisha, that his brother is no longer a practicing Jew. The return of the wayward son undermines relationships within the family and gives to rise to endless negotiations between Raphael, his parents and his brother on matters of money and love. “Damaged Goods” is a film about damaged people who must learn to accept one another, despite their shortcomings. This is a film about the power of a family as opposed to the lone individual.
Haifa pitch point- 1st prize
Haifa pitch point- 1st prize Jerusalem Pitch point, 2009
Aya Somech graduated the Film and Television Department in the Tel Aviv University. Her graduation film “Questions of a Dead Worker” (2002, Fiction, 16 mm, 19 min.) won the Cannes Film Festival Cinefondation’s 3rd Prize. The jury included Martin Scorsese, The Iranian director Abas Kiarostami and actress Tilda Swinton. Currently directing a Documentary film "Cigarettes", and co-writing the script for her first feature film “Damaged Goods” (awarded 10,000$ for script development by the Israeli Film Fund ; 5,000$ by the "Gesher Film Fund" and won the Haifa Film Festival Pitching contest). Working as an editor (among her works the documentaries: "A Snail in the Desert", “State of Israel vs. Tali Fahima" etc).
Michal Vinik graduated the Film and Television Department at Tel-Aviv University as a scriptwriter. She is now majoring as a director, in the MFA program (won 2 scholarships for excellence). Her short film “Bait” will be screened at the SUNDANCE Film Festival 2009 in competition, won a special mention award at Jerusalem film festival and was screen at film festivals around the world.
She is currently developing 2 full length scripts with The Israeli film fund, one as a co-writer ;Teaching scriptwriting at Tel Aviv University, Minshar for Art School and Beit Berl Academic College and Beit Berl Academic College ; Writes culture reviews for Maariv national newspaper; and “City Mouse” – Tel Aviv local newspaper.
Michal Vinik graduated the Film and Television Department at Tel-Aviv University as a scriptwriter. She is now majoring as a director, in the MFA program (won 2 scholarships for excellence). Her short film “Bait” will be screened at the SUNDANCE Film Festival 2009 in competition, won a special mention award at Jerusalem film festival and was screen at film festivals around the world.
She is currently developing 2 full length scripts with The Israeli film fund, one as a co-writer ;Teaching scriptwriting at Tel Aviv University, Minshar for Art School and Beit Berl Academic College and Beit Berl Academic College ; Writes culture reviews for Maariv national newspaper; and “City Mouse” – Tel Aviv local newspaper.
