Synonyms

Name: Synonyms
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 25, 2019
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Chris Zastera, Djamel Lazaar, Dolev Ohana, Gaël Raes, Gal Amitai

2019

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 22 Critic Reviews

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Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Ratings

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 23 Ratings

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Synonyms

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date: October 25, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Chris Zastera, Djamel Lazaar, Dolev Ohana, Gaël Raes, Gal Amitai, Gaya Von Schwarze, Idan Ashkenazi, John Sehil, Jonathan Boudina, Louise Chevillotte, Olivier Loustau, Quentin Dolmaire, Tom Mercier, Uria Hayik, Yehuda Almagor

Movie Facts:

Won the Golden Bear as the best film in competition at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival.

Summary: In Paris, things do not exactly get off to a good start for the newly arrived Yoav. He knocks on the door of the flat where he's supposed to stay, only to discover the place is empty. While he is taking a bath there, his belongings are stolen. Yet this young Israeli, who has arrived with such great expectations, will not be dissuaded thatIn Paris, things do not exactly get off to a good start for the newly arrived Yoav. He knocks on the door of the flat where he's supposed to stay, only to discover the place is empty. While he is taking a bath there, his belongings are stolen. Yet this young Israeli, who has arrived with such great expectations, will not be dissuaded that easily. Desperate to erase his origins, Yoav sees becoming French as his only hope for salvation. Step one is to replace his language. From now on, he will not utter a single word of Hebrew and his dictionary becomes his constant companion. The necessary visits to the Israeli embassy annoy Yoav – he finds his compatriots to be a total burden – but the naturalization test also has its pitfalls. And the young French couple whom he befriends has some rather strange ideas about how to help him. Based on the real life experiences of writer-director Nadav Lapid's (The Kindergarten Teacher, Policeman), Synonyms explores the challenges of putting down roots in a new place. Yoav's attempts to find himself awaken past demons and open up an existential abyss in this tragicomic puzzle that wisely knows how to keep its secrets. [Kino Lorber]… Expand

Director: Nadav Lapid

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 123 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Joe Morgenstern

Oct 24, 2019

One word for Nadav Lapid’s Synonyms, a movie with a hero obsessed with words, is astonishing. Other words apply to this Israeli feature, in subtitled French and Hebrew, that’s set in Paris. They include, in no particular order, fascinating, infuriating, frightening, lyrical and befuddling. Plus deadpan funny and frequently stunning as a bittersweet ode to contemporary France, one that’s suffused with New Wave verve. Read full review

100

IndieWire David Ehrlich

Feb 15, 2019

Lapid’s film is too fresh and intransigent to know how well it will age over time or hold up to repeat viewings, but on first blush it feels like a powerful howl that’s hard to hear clearly, and harder still to get out of your head. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Oct 28, 2019

That’s part of the beauty of this film: It games out very real, very human impulses to their surreal breaking points, only to uncover even greater truths. Read full review

The Film Stage Ed Frankl

Feb 21, 2019

As an exercise in depicting the disjointed link between national and personal identity, Synonyms is dazzling. As a portrait of displacement in a world becoming both more globalized and more nationalistic, it is a testament. Read full review

Jamie Neish

Oct 24, 2019

Mercier has a presence about him that’s unshakable. Read full review

Josh Kupecki

Feb 24, 2021

It is a brilliant high-wire act. Yoaz is utterly unpredictable at any given moment, and so too, is Synonyms. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Oct 24, 2019

Filmmaker and subject also share a disdain for restraint, shouting and jostling to ensure we’ve gotten their point. But while their parallel passions aren’t exactly subtle, they do make their mark. Read full review

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User Reviews

Ananisapta

Apr 11, 2020

Theater of the absurd that seems more anti-Semitic than satirical. We found nobody to like or admire. The French characters seemed to constitute a lost generation just waiting for a pandemic to clean up on them. Plenty of full frontal nudity but not where I, as a hetero male, might haveTheater of the absurd that seems more anti-Semitic than satirical. We found nobody to like or admire. The French characters seemed to constitute a lost generation just waiting for a pandemic to clean up on them. Plenty of full frontal nudity but not where I, as a hetero male, might have appreciated it. Lots of suggestions of bisexuality but little beyond that. One wonders what motivated the writer of this sad spectacle. I'll give it a 3 for artsy-fartsy but that's being generous.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

ZaganEDF

Nov 16, 2020

Kinda meh. I know it suppose to be a satire. But it's the end message that's so righ wing propaganda like. "Europe is so welcoming of immigrants they are cucking it and Jews place is in Israel that's where they belong" ok whatever I guess. Story wise there's not much either.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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