Dear Mr. Waldman (2006)
"Michtavim Le America" (original title)

In the early sixties, Hilik, a ten years old boy who lives in Tel Aviv, Torn between his fear that his father, a holocaust survivor, would abandon him, and the wish to make him happy. Hilik... See full summary »

Director:

Hanan Peled

Writer:

Hanan Peled

Stars:

Rami Heuberger, Jenya Dodina, Ido Port

5 nominations.

Cast

Credited cast:
Rami Heuberger	...	Moishe
Jenya Dodina	...	Rivka
Ido Port	...	Hilik
Roy Mayer	...	Jonathan
Ela Armoni	...	Nirit
Evelyn Kaplun	...	Rozeka
Doval'e Glickman	...	Froyeke
Gadi Poor	...	Zaks
Esti Svidenski	...	Batiya
Eli Gorenstein	...	Principal
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arie Adler
Yeshayahu Ben-Israel	...	Ambessy officer
Tamir Buskila
Sima Elkayam	...	Neiboughr
NaAma Ginat	...	Ambessy worker

Storyline

In the early sixties, Hilik, a ten years old boy who lives in Tel Aviv, Torn between his fear that his father, a holocaust survivor, would abandon him, and the wish to make him happy. Hilik chooses to test his father's love to him, while accepting the risk of loosing him.

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew

Release Date:

28 December 2006 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Dear Mr. Waldman

Filming Locations:

Tel Aviv, Israel

Box Office

Budget:

$1,300,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Israeli Film Fund, Open Doors Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min 90 min (cut)

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR (35 mm prints)

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

User Reviews

Well-rounded characters

In general, whenever I see an Israeli film I come away with the impression that the Israeli film-makers are superior to their American counterparts in creating real, well-rounded characters. This film is no exception, despite the somewhat far-fetched plot device. The characters seem to be real people, not caricatures. All of the Holocaust survivors in the film are affected by the condition which today we call PTSD, and much of their anxiety is passed on to the next generation. The film avoids the temptation to turn these people into saints, but rather shows them with all of their shortcomings and makes us aware how their character flaws were shaped by their experiences in the Camps. However, the film's creators assume that we know enough about the Holocaust that they do not need to provide more than a brief description of the characters' Holocaust experiences rather than dwelling on them. The film is not about what they suffered but rather how they cope or tried to cope.