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IMDbPro

Minotaur

  • 19971997
  • 1h 31m
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
199
YOUR RATING
Minotaur (1997)
  • Romance
  • Thriller
Alex Abramov is Mossad secret agent looking after some bad guys. He falls in love with young music student Thea, but can not reveal himself and sends her gifts secretly. Thea first thinks th... Read allAlex Abramov is Mossad secret agent looking after some bad guys. He falls in love with young music student Thea, but can not reveal himself and sends her gifts secretly. Thea first thinks that it must be another student, G.R., who sends gifts, and bad guys, knowing about Alex's f... Read allAlex Abramov is Mossad secret agent looking after some bad guys. He falls in love with young music student Thea, but can not reveal himself and sends her gifts secretly. Thea first thinks that it must be another student, G.R., who sends gifts, and bad guys, knowing about Alex's feelings towards Thea, attack G.R. by mistake.
IMDb RATING
4.6/10
199
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Jonathan Tammuz
  • Writers
    • Benjamin Tamuz(novel)
    • Dan Turgeman
    • Emily Weissman(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Mili Avital
    • Dan Turgeman
    • Georges Corraface
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jonathan Tammuz
  • Writers
    • Benjamin Tamuz(novel)
    • Dan Turgeman
    • Emily Weissman(uncredited)
  • Stars
    • Mili Avital
    • Dan Turgeman
    • Georges Corraface
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 3User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 8 nominations

    Photos6

    Minotaur (1997)
    Mili Avital in Minotaur (1997)
    Dan Turgeman in Minotaur (1997)
    Minotaur (1997)
    Minotaur (1997)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Mili Avital
    Mili Avital
    • Theaas Thea
    Dan Turgeman
    Dan Turgeman
    • Alexas Alex
    Georges Corraface
    Georges Corraface
    • Nicosas Nicos
    Christine Jones
    • Thea's motheras Thea's mother
    Josh Lucas
    Josh Lucas
    • G.R.as G.R.
    Anat Atzmon
    Anat Atzmon
    • Motheras Mother
    Mike Burstyn
    Mike Burstyn
    • Mossad Manas Mossad Man
    Catherine Kellner
    Catherine Kellner
    • Kimas Kim
    Asher Tzarfati
    Asher Tzarfati
    • Head of The Mossadas Head of The Mossad
    Gadi Dorfman
    • Young Alexas Young Alex
    Robert Levine
    Robert Levine
    • Music teacheras Music teacher
    Anatol Constantin
    • Kesleras Kesler
    Ricardo Cordero
    Ricardo Cordero
    • Tony Cigarsas Tony Cigars
    Tony Dalton
    Tony Dalton
    • College Studentas College Student
    Sandra Gilligan
    • Student Lecture Hallas Student Lecture Hall
    Amy Jo Schaefer
    Amy Jo Schaefer
    • Cafe Patron (extra)as Cafe Patron (extra)
    • Director
      • Jonathan Tammuz
    • Writers
      • Benjamin Tamuz(novel)
      • Dan Turgeman
      • Emily Weissman(uncredited)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Soundtracks
      Piano Concerto No. 23 in A, K. 488
      Written by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (as Mozart0

    User reviews3

    Review
    Top review
    10/10
    A Remarkable Film
    I discovered Minotaur by accident when it started playing on HBO channels in October 2001. Seemingly unheralded except for an incorrect two-sentence prologue from HBO, I feel it deserves far more attention than that.

    The central character is Alex, an Israeli Mossad assassin operating in New York City. Like the Picasso print on his childhood bedroom wall, Alex has become a Minotaur; part beast, part man, for he is also a soulful romantic. Both are legacies from his mother.

    Happiness had been out of reach for Alex until he sees Thea. She is a student of classical music and Spanish literature, and a purer version of his mother.

    Fearing endangering Thea, Alex watches from a distance but cannot resist moving closer and closer. He leaves incredible love letters and gifts for her in places no stranger could. He includes a book of Picasso prints with "his" Minotaur drawing and a Luis de Gongora poem about two hearts in one body. Thea is deeply moved and cannot understand why he stays apart.

    As he realizes much later, he was a coward not to have left his old ways behind when he first saw her --and the more time that passes, the more dangerous the conflicted situation becomes.

    The ending, like the events leading to it, echo the Gongora poem and Minotaur drawing, whose symbolism had always held-out more than one possible meaning for their relationship.

    The use of art, literature, music, and history to impart deeper meanings to situations is very well done. So is the interplay of shadow and light, down to Alex's stubbled or clean-shaven face, reflecting how far in or out of his dark world he is.

    Rather than following a linear time-line, the film unravels Alex's emotions. The story moves between 1963 and the mid-1990s, from a beautiful rural home in Israel (that seems to have once been a Palestinian home) to the buildings, streets, and skylines of NYC.

    Mostly in English, Minotaur is an Israeli production based on the book by Israeli author Benjamin Tammaz. The core references to the perils of the deepening chasm between utter brutality and hope speak to the conflicts there and elsewhere more than ever.

    The film's star, co-writer and co-producer is Dan Turgeman who used to sometimes use his Sephardic looks for roles in English-language films that negatively stereotyped Muslims. He may have perhaps needed the work as a younger actor, but this is a welcome change.
    helpful•8
    6
    • Aviewer2001
    • Oct 31, 2001

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • 1997 (Israel)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Israel
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Mossad
    • Filming locations
      • New York City, New York, USA
    • Production companies
      • Cinema Pardes
      • Minotaur Productions
      • Top Line Communications
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 31 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
      • Dolby
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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