Montana

Limor Shmila; 2017; Israel; 74 min.; in Hebrew with English subtitles

After her grandfather’s death and a 15-year absence, Efi (Noa Biron) returns to her family in the picturesque Mediterranean coastal town of Acre, where she begins a torrid affair with Karen, the sultry, married mother of two who now lives in Efi’s childhood home. When confronted by the close relationship between her uncle and Karen’s young daughter, Efi struggles to face and expose traumatic family secrets both old and new. More than a story about the complicated interweaving of family dynamics and social norms, MONTANA illustrates the inevitable impact of disrupting the cycle of sexual abuse and breaking the silence in which it thrives. With its nuanced performances and sleepy seaside setting, MONTANA premiered to much acclaim at the 2017 Toronto International Film Festival.