USA: ISRAELI BORN FILM DIRECTOR AMOS KOLLEK SPEAKS OF HIS FILM "FAST FOOD FAST WOMEN"

Record ID: 391766

  • Title: USA: ISRAELI BORN FILM DIRECTOR AMOS KOLLEK SPEAKS OF HIS FILM "FAST FOOD FAST WOMEN"
  • Date: 6th August 2001
  • Summary: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (RECENT) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (Hebrew) KOLLEK SAYING:" I was very surprised that Fast Food Fast Women was accepted into Cannes and that it was one of the three or four most exciting films that year, the year 2000. In Israel it became hugely successful, like a good Hollywood movie. It was really great for me to became famous in my ho
  • Embargoed: 21st August 2001 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES UNIDENTIFIED FILM LOCATIONS
  • Country: USA
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA42T03BISKEIP0IR9J3P5030CF
  • Story Text: Israeli born film director Amos Kollek, who has received critical acclaim for his dark comedies at the Cannes Film Festival, is ready to release his latest film,"Beirut", which has been shot entirely in New York.
    Israeli born film director Amos Kollek has been compared to Woody Allen, for his quirky characters and story telling style.
    Also like Allen, Kollek is one of the most devoted chroniclers of the life in New York City, its characters and spirit.
    " I am very interested in people. I am very interested in the same theme of loneliness, the flip side, looking for love. I think in New York I have encountered a number of fringe characters. In Jerusalem it is not the case. New York people don't even know their next door neighbours. This struck me about New York. In Israel , In five minutes you know everybody in the building. In some way, my themes are based on New York and it's people."
    But unlike Allen, his films are darker and grittier and the story lines cut deeper. Son of Teddy Kollek, the former mayor of Jerusalem( from 1965 to 1993), Amos grew up in a fairly imposing environment. He left Israel and came to New York to find fame and fortune. He has gone on to win International acclaim in Europe in his latest film "Fast Food Fast Women" which received critical appreciation at this year's Cannes Film Festival.
    It's a quirky romantic comedy set in New York, with actress Anna Thompson playing Bella, a lonely waitress about to turn 35, who finds the man of her dreams. Louise Lasser, who was once married to Woody Allen also stars in the film.
    It's a charming off beat film, with many scenes taking place in a diner, that is patronized by complaining retirees.
    The other film that earned him rave reviews at Cannes was his newly completed project "Queenie In Love," another quirky comedy about the pursuit of life, love and the freedom to be yourself. The film stars Kollek discovery Valerie Gefner, who plays Queenie, a 24 year old social worker who unsuccessfully pursues an acting career on the side.
    The young Queenie prefers slumming it in the East Village of Manhattan instead of living in her parents mulit million dollar estate in Westchester, Connecticut.
    Now, Kollek has just completed shooting his latest project "Beirut," a black comedy shot in New York.
    It's a sprawling convoluted story of Bridget, played by Anna Thompson, whose husband a New York cop, is killed by drug dealers who chase her for years because they think that she has their money.
    It's another low budget Kollek flick but with the momentum he is beginning to gain, a crack at Hollywood may not be far away.
    Kollek adds, that his films and life reflect each other.
    And after doing two comedies, he's feeling a whole lot lighter these days.
    --
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