Film relives rape drama

ISRAELI actress Evgenia Dodina was a special guest at the official opening of the AICE Israeli Film Festival in Melbourne this week.

Dodina is the star of the challenging feature film Invisible which is set around a true story of a rape trial in Tel Aviv in the 1970s.

“I’m very excited about making my first visit to Australia,” the Russian-born actress told The AJN from Tel Aviv on the eve of her trip to Australia.

“I arrived in Israel 20 years ago and it is my home. I am proud to represent it abroad, especially in Israeli cinema, which has become an integral part of international cinema in recent years.”

Dodina will introduce the screening of Invisible at Palace Cinema Como, South Yarra, on August 31 and afterwards take part in a Q&A with the audience. She will also host a screening at the Palace Brighton Bay on September 1.

In Invisible, Dodina plays television editor Nira, one of 16 victims of a Tel Aviv serial rapist who had to relive the trauma 20 years later.

The film has won several awards including the Ecumenical Prize at the Berlin Film Festival and best film and best actress awards at the Haifa International Film Festival.

“I was proud to take part in a film whose subject is, unfortunately, very relevant,” says Dodina.

“The role of Nira is very challenging and rewarding in terms of its importance. Whenever I am working on a role, the more difficult it is, the more interesting it is for me.

“In Nira’s case, it was very important to bring the character to the screen as true and authentic.”

Dodina studied at the Royal Art School in Moscow before migrating to Israel in her early 20s.

She spent 17 years as a performer at the Gesher Theatre in Tel Aviv before joining the Habimah National Theatre.

“I really love to combine my work between theatre, television and cinema,” she says. “None of them become a routine. Each new role is like a child to me – I cannot say I love one over the other.”

The AICE Israeli Film Festival is held in Melbourne from August 28 to September 9 at Palace Como, South Yarra and Palace Brighton Bay.

Bookings: www.palacecinemas.com.au

REPORT by Danny Gocs
PHOTO of Evgenia Dodina in Invisible