Synonyms (2019)
Synonymes (original title)Reference View | Change View
- Unrated
- 2h 3min
- Comedy, Drama
- 25 Oct 2019 (USA)
- Movie
A young Israeli man absconds to Paris to flee his nationality, aided by his trusty Franco-Israeli dictionary.
Director:
Writers:
Awards:
- 5 wins & 24 nominations.
- See more »
Photos and Videos
Cast
| Tom Mercier | ... |
Yoav
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| Quentin Dolmaire | ... |
Emile
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| Louise Chevillotte | ... |
Caroline
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| Uria Hayik | ... |
Yaron
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| Olivier Loustau | ... |
Michel
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Yehuda Almagor | ... |
Yoav's Father
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Gaya von Schwarze | ... |
Tamar
(as Gaya Von Schwarze)
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| Gal Amitai | ... |
Eyal
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Idan Ashkenazi | ... |
Roey
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Dolev Ohana | ... |
Amit
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Liron Baranes | ... |
Officer
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Erwan Ribard | ... |
Tolga
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Yawen Ribard | ... |
Tolga's Son
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Iman Amara-Korba | ... |
Yasmina
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Sébastien Robinet | ... |
Police Agent
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Damien Carlet | ... |
Cello Player
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Ron Bitterman | ... |
Army Commander
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Naor Nachmani | ... |
Jeep Driver
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Yahalom David | ... |
Army Singer 1
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Herut Cohen | ... |
Army Singer 2
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Valentine Carette | ... |
Dancing Girl at Bar 1
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Catherine Denecy | ... |
Dancing Girl at Bar 2
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| Léa Drucker | ... |
French Teacher
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| Christophe Paou | ... |
Raphaël
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| Rest of cast listed alphabetically: | |||
| Marie Rivière |
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| Alexia Alexander | ... |
Alexia (uncredited)
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Jonathan Boudina | ... |
Aurélien (uncredited)
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Mathieu Cayrou | ... |
Le jeune parisien amoureux (uncredited)
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Djamel Lazaar | ... |
Embassy Security (uncredited)
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John Sehil | ... |
Un passager importuné dans le Métro Parisien (uncredited)
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Yilin Yang | ... |
Jeune fille qui chante la Marseillaise (uncredited)
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Chris Zastera | ... |
Embassy security (uncredited)
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Directed by
| Nadav Lapid | ||
Written by
| Nadav Lapid | ... | (screenplay) & |
| Haim Lapid | ... | (screenplay) |
Produced by
| Maren Ade | ... | co-producer |
| Saïd Ben Saïd | ... | producer |
| Kevin Chneiweiss | ... | associate producer |
| Jonas Dornbach | ... | co-producer |
| Osnat Handelsman-Keren | ... | co-producer |
| Joana Henning | ... | co-producer |
| Janine Jackowski | ... | co-producer |
| Talia Kleinhendler | ... | co-producer |
| Kateryna Merkt | ... | associate producer |
| Michel Merkt | ... | producer |
| Olivier Père | ... | co-producer |
| Sophie Roudaut | ... | assistant producer |
| Ben von Dobeneck | ... | line producer: Komplizen Film |
Cinematography by
| Shai Goldman | ||
Editing by
| Neta Braun | ||
| François Gédigier | ||
| Era Lapid | ||
Editorial Department
| Marina Amaro | ... | dailies: M141 |
| Pierre Beautrait | ... | conformation: M141 |
| Justine Bernal | ... | lab supervisor: M141 |
| Thibault Carterot | ... | ceo: M141 |
| Matthias Compagnon | ... | dailies: M141 |
| Charles Fréville | ... | colorist |
| Patrice Goessant | ... | chief technical officer: M141 |
| Audrey Kleinclaus | ... | digital intermediate producer |
| Mustapha Laatita | ... | assistant colorist / workflow supervisor: M141 |
| Cecile Portal | ... | deliveries: M141 |
| My Lan Nguyen Quang | ... | visual effects: M141 |
| Lucas Roy | ... | editing management: M141 |
| Ann Sophie Wieder | ... | assistant editor |
Production Design by
| Pascale Consigny | ||
Set Decoration by
| Sébastien Danos | ||
Costume Design by
| Khadija Zeggaï | ||
Makeup Department
| Noa Yehonatan | ... | chief makeup artist / key makeup artist |
Production Management
| Christophe Arnould | ... | junior unit manager |
| Mikaël Deleau | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Christine Duchier | ... | post-production supervisor |
| Marianne Germain | ... | production manager |
| Simon Gégout | ... | additional unit manager |
| Logan Lelièvre | ... | unit manager |
| Alexandre Leroy | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Romain Planque | ... | assistant unit manager |
| Capucine Roux | ... | assistant unit manager |
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
| Matthieu Asano | ... | director's assistant |
| Cécile Atton | ... | additional auxiliary assistant director |
| Jérémy Mazza | ... | second assistant director |
| Justinien Schricke | ... | first assistant director |
| Jeanne Tassy | ... | additional second assistant director |
Art Department
| Clarence Beaumont | ... | dressing props |
| Stéphane Capdecomme | ... | construction grip |
| Léo Christ | ... | third assistant decorator |
| Violette Duponchel | ... | intern |
| Benjamin Etoubleau | ... | dressing props |
| Hervé Ingrand | ... | dressing props |
| Margot Kraatz | ... | third assistant decorator |
| Yann Lapetite | ... | thirst assistant decorator |
| Thomas Laporte | ... | property master |
| Nathalie Martella | ... | chief upholsterer |
| Isabelle Melica | ... | patina painter |
| Solène Panné | ... | third assistant decorator |
| Capucine Pantin | ... | second assistant decorator / graphic designer (uncredited) |
Sound Department
| Franck Cartaut | ... | boom operator |
| Christina Crevillén | ... | adr supervisor |
| Anne Gibourg | ... | dialogue editor |
| Marina Kertesz | ... | sound mixer |
| Sandy Notarianni | ... | supervising sound editor |
| Matthieu Tertois | ... | ADR mixer |
| Christophe Vingtrinier | ... | re-recording mixer |
Special Effects by
| Colin Philippi | ... | special effects technician |
Visual Effects by
| Jordan Amicelle | ... | vfx editor |
| Maria Andriani Andritsi | ... | visual effects producer |
| Romain Bedouet | ... | digital compositor |
| Nora Berecoechea | ... | Responsable général Umedia VFX |
| Constant Bourgon | ... | vfx editor |
| Thierry Delobel | ... | vfx director |
| Cécile Durand | ... | visual effects coordinator |
| Elisa Perez | ... | visual effects producer : Umedia VFX |
| David Sanchez | ... | compositing supervisor |
Stunts
| Pascal Guégan | ... | stunt performer |
Camera and Electrical Department
| Christophe Chauvin | ... | additional second assistant operator |
| Jean Delhomme | ... | key grip |
| Sacha Duval | ... | additional grip |
| Guy Ferrandis | ... | still photographer |
| Colas Jourdain | ... | electrician |
| Valentin Monge | ... | steadycamer |
| Lior Peri | ... | chief electrician |
| Diane Plas | ... | second assistant operator |
| Laurent Pouchard | ... | additional grip |
| Anatoliy Radchenko | ... | first assistant camera unit Israel |
| Nicolas Rea | ... | second assistant operator (as Nicolas Réa) |
| Etienne Saldés | ... | steadycamer (as Etienne Saldes) |
| Rami Siman-Tov | ... | first assistant operator |
Casting Department
| Julie Berthier | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Franzo Curcio | ... | extras casting (as Francesco Curcio) |
| Julie Gandossi | ... | childrens casting |
| Lucie Perraudin | ... | extras casting assistant |
| Stephanie K. Ripstein | ... | talent manager |
Costume and Wardrobe Department
| Dine Haouari | ... | costumier (as Badredine Haouari) |
| Manon Lancerotto | ... | costumer |
| Alphonsine Mireille Toudonou | ... | ager dyer |
Location Management
| Olivier Amour | ... | locations |
| Severine Deluc | ... | location scout |
| Séverine Deluc | ... | locations |
| Alexandra Maugrion | ... | locations |
| Fabien Morault | ... | locations |
| Romain Planque | ... | assistant location manager |
| Emmanuel Roussille | ... | locations |
Music Department
| Elise Luguern | ... | music supervisor |
Additional Crew
| Christina Crevillén | ... | French speaking coach for Tom Mercier |
| Marie-Christine Gauchée | ... | production administrator |
| Sivane Ichai | ... | production secretary (as Sivane Ichaï) |
| Myriam Rak | ... | legal clearance supervisor |
| Sophie Roudaut | ... | production assistant |
Production Companies
- SBS Films (co-production)
- Pie Films (co-production)
- Komplizen Film (co-production)
- Arte France Cinéma (co-production)
- The Cinema Project (support)
- Rabinovich Fundation (support)
- Ministry of Culture and Sport (support)
- ARTE (participation)
- WDR/Arte (participation)
- Centre national du cinéma et de l'image animée (CNC) (participation)
- Filmförderungsanstalt (FFA) (participation)
- L'Aide aux cinémas du monde (support)
- Institut français (support)
Distributors
- SBS Distribution (2018) (France) (theatrical)
- Kino Lorber (2019) (United States) (theatrical) (subtitled)
- Aurora Films (2019) (Poland) (theatrical)
- Baska Sinema (2019) (Turkey) (theatrical)
- BuenCine Producciones (2020) (Uruguay) (theatrical)
- Cinéma Du Parc (2020) (Canada) (theatrical)
- Discovery Film & Video Distribution (2020) (Croatia) (theatrical)
- Escarlate Conteúdo Audiovisual (2018) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- Film Europe Media (2019) (Slovakia) (theatrical)
- Film Europe (2019) (Czechia) (theatrical)
- Filmgarten (2019) (Austria) (theatrical)
- Fivia (2019) (Slovenia) (theatrical)
- Fênix Distribuidora de Filmes (2019) (Brazil) (theatrical)
- Good Films (2020) (Spain) (theatrical)
- Grandfilm (2019) (Germany) (theatrical)
- Kino Pavasaris (2020) (Lithuania) (theatrical)
- MB Films (2019) (Paraguay) (theatrical)
- Maco (2019) (Argentina) (theatrical)
- MegaCom Film (MCF) (2019) (Serbia) (theatrical)
- Swallow Wings (2019) (Taiwan) (theatrical)
- United King Films (2019) (Israel) (theatrical)
- Weird Wave (2019) (Greece) (theatrical)
- ARTE (2022) (Germany) (tv)
- ARTE (2022) (France) (tv)
- Films4You (2019) (Portugal)
- La Aventura (2020) (Spain)
- Provzglyad (2019) (Russia)
- The Criterion Channel (2020) (United States) (tv) (digital)
- absolut MEDIEN (2020) (Germany) (DVD)
Special Effects
Other Companies
- Ari Davidoff (transport)
- Cofiloisirs (production loan)
- Shlomo Sixt (production vehicles)
- Shvartz Vehicles (camera and makeup vehicles)
- Telisoll Communications (talkies walkies)
- Vardit Catering (cantine)
Storyline
| Plot Summary |
Yoav, a young Israeli man, has a one-way ticket to Paris believing France to be his salvation from what he sees as the madness of his country. Things don't get off to a great start as he discovers his living arrangement is unfit for living, yet his grandiose expectations leave no room for a failure to adapt. Wholehearted in his resolution to erase his Jewish-Israeli origins, he refuses to speak Hebrew and obsessively studies his constant companion, a French dictionary. He develops a particularly strong bond with his privileged neighbor who symbolizes - to Yoav - the French promise of fraternité. Nothing can extinguish Yoav's determination to be thoroughly French. Based on the real-life experiences of writer-director Nadav Lapid, SYNONYMS explores the conflicted realm of fervent Nationalism and the challenges of putting down roots in a foreign land. Written by Mae Moreno |
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| Parents Guide | View content advisory » |
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Additional Details
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Did You Know?
| Trivia | Film debut of Tom Mercier. See more » |
| Goofs | A cable man can be spotted on Michel's helmet in the close-up shots of him riding the motorcycle. See more » |
| Movie Connections | Referenced in Nikolay Rastorguev/Igor Matvienko (2019). See more » |
| Soundtracks | Concerto in E Minor for Violoncello and Orchestra Op. 85 See more » |
| Quotes |
French Teacher:
1905. If you remember one date, that one! The separation of church and state. Secular, secular, secular. In France, no one asks you your religion. In France, no one talks about their religion. Two months ago, a man prayed out on the lawn. The janitor took a photo. We dealt with him. Here, no money goes to religions. No money to churches, mosques or synagogues. Money is for education, not religion. Because there is no religion. Because there is no god. Because god does not exist. See more » |