Home / Arts and Entertainment / Cuz You're Ugly: Sisters Navigate Trauma and Self-Discovery
Cuz You're Ugly: Sisters Navigate Trauma and Self-Discovery
25 Jul
Summary
- Actress Riki Reif Sinai won Best Actress at Jerusalem Film Festival.
- The film explores a fraught sisterly bond and a search for a better life.
- Director Sharon Angelhart aimed to create a relatable coming-of-age story.
The film "Cuz You're Ugly," directed by Sharon Angelhart, offers a poignant look at sisterhood and self-discovery, beginning its theatrical run across Israel on Thursday. Set in Jerusalem, the movie stars Riki Reif Sinai as Avigail, a young soldier navigating personal struggles, and Or Avinoam as her younger sister, Naomi, who faces an unexpected pregnancy.
The narrative highlights the sisters' close yet tumultuous relationship, with Avigail stepping in to support Naomi despite her own uncertain future. Director Angelhart, drawing from her own experiences growing up in Jerusalem, aimed to craft a relatable story that reflects the complexities of adolescence and familial challenges.
Performances by Sinai and Avinoam have garnered significant acclaim. Sinai received the Best Actress Award at the Jerusalem Film Festival, and Avinoam earned the Ophir Award for Best Supporting Actress. The film also won the Ophir Award for Best Casting, underscoring the strength of its ensemble.
Angelhart described the film as dealing with issues close to her heart, including internal conflict and body image. She intentionally cast a plus-size actress in the lead role, aiming for "body neutrality" rather than positivity. Filmed in Jerusalem's Gilo neighborhood, the movie showcases an authentic, less-seen side of the city.
