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

18 wins & 15 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:

gay sex | bisexual man | male rear nudity | jerusalem israel | gay interest | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Certificate:

Not Rated

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

Jour de Pluie
Written and performed by Dominique Charpentier
From The Cakemaker - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

User Reviews

Strong 4 // Quietly powerful

The Cakemaker is melodrama fodder. A married man, a young son, a gay affair, death, deceit, revelation - the setup has all the trappings of a trite lifetime movie. It's not though, far from it. Instead, it's one of the quietest and most delicate films I've seen this year. It trades dramatic fireworks for quiet rumination, diving deep into the psychology of grief rather than indulging in scandal. The performances are beautifully restrained, the dramatic weight carried on the slightest of expressions. Character motivations are left largely unarticulated, challenging the viewer to empathize and draw their own conclusions as to their thoughts and feelings. The languid pacing may be patience-testing for some, but I found myself comforted and calmed by the stillness of the film. The drama is quite layered as well with cultural, social, and religious themes impressing upon the core triangular relationship. Perhaps what I admire most about the film though is the broad, non-judgmental way in which it depicts love and loss, unbound by social and cultural divides. A beautiful, honest, and melancholic piece.

Strong 4/5

Details

Official Sites:

Films Boutique Fimbaseberlin [Germany]

Country:

Israel Germany

Language:

English Hebrew German

Release Date:

28 December 2017 (Israel)

Also Known As:

The Cakemaker

Filming Locations:

Jerusalem, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$33,384, 1 July 2018

Gross USA:

$875,751

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,287,568

Company Credits

Production Co:

Laila Films, Film Base Berlin

Technical Specs

Runtime:

113 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1