The Cakemaker (2017)

A German pastry maker travels to Jerusalem in search of the wife and son of his dead lover.

Director:

Ofir Raul Graizer

Writer:

Ofir Raul Graizer (screenplay)

Stars:

Tim Kalkhof, Sarah Adler, Roy Miller

17 wins & 12 nominations.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Tim Kalkhof	...	Thomas
Sarah Adler	...	Anat Nachmias
Roy Miller	...	Oren Nachmias
Zohar Shtrauss	...	Moti (as Zohar Strauss)
Sandra Sade	...	Hanna (as Sandra Sadeh)
Tamir Ben Yehuda	...	Itai Nachmias (as Tomer Ben Yehuda)
Stephanie Stremler	...	Sophia
Tagel Eliyahu	...	Dana
Eliezer Shimon	...	Avram (as Eliezer Lipa Shimon)
Gal Gonen	...	Client
Sagi Shemesh	...	Soldier
Iyad Msalma	...	Swimming instructor
David Koren	...	Swimmer (as David Heedye Koren)

Storyline

Thomas, a young and talented German baker, is having an affair with Oren, an Israeli married man who dies in a car crash. Thomas travels to Jerusalem seeking answers. Keeping his secret for himself, he starts working for Anat, his lover's widow, who owns a small café. Although not fully kosher and despised by the religious, his delicious cakes turn the place into a city attraction. Finding himself involved in Anat's life in a way far beyond his anticipation, Thomas will stretch his lie to a point of no return.

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Plot Keywords:

male rear nudity | gay man has sex with a woman | berlin | jerusalem israel | gay desire | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Details

Official Sites:

Films Boutique Fimbaseberlin [Germany]

Country:

Israel Germany

Language:

Hebrew German English

Release Date:

28 December 2017 (Israel)

Also Known As:

El repostero de Berlín

Filming Locations:

Jerusalem, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,384, 1 July 2018, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$858,496, 11 October 2018

Company Credits

Production Co:

Laila Films,Film Base Berlin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Official submission of Israel for the 'Best Foreign Language Film' category of the 91st Academy Awards in 2019.

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Connections

Referenced in KVIFF Guide: Episode #1.8 (2017)

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Soundtracks

Instantané
Written and performed by Dominique Charpentier
From The Cakemaker - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

User Reviews

Black Forest Cake and Heartache

For a book to be a subtle masterpiece is less of a challenge than for a film to be, in my opinion. A classic yawner still has all of those beautiful words on the page, same as a page-turner. But a film is over in 2 hours. An extended take of a close-up of a woman's face is taking up precious time. It can be superfluous. It can be an artistic pretention. Some of the extended takes in The Cakemaker may be Europretentious to some, but to me they are exquisite. It can be a fine line between silly and intelligent when that is done, but Ofir Raul Graizer - the director of the film - pulls it off with elegance every time. That extended close-up of Anat's face, telling us how she is feeling and what she is thinking, is better than words can express. When Oren's mother looks at Thomas in her kitchen but does not say anything, then goes over and touches his face, the look on her face and the tenderness of her gesture conveys so much. There are many examples of this in the film, and if you're a foodie you may be moved to orgasm by the close-ups of people eating Thomas' baked sweets, and even of Thomas preparing them. No words are spoken in these scenes. Overall, The Cakemaker never for a moment ceases to convey humanity so real, so honest, so sensual, that you have stepped into real people's lives and into a real world that is gorgeous not because everyone is beautiful and happy, but because it's just so wonderfully human. It's quite an astonishing accomplishment. Having said all of this, the decisive point in the film - the lie that Thomas embarks on and perpetuates - is far-fetched. Without it there is no film, and it's a wonderful film after all, but I can't fathom why anyone would do something like that.