Footnote

103 minutes

Israel

FOOTNOTE is the tale of a great rivalry between a father and son. Eliezer and Uriel Shkolnik are both eccentric professors, who have dedicated their lives to their work in Talmudic Studies. The father, Eliezer, is a stubborn purist who fears the establishment and has never been recognized for his work. Meanwhile his son, Uriel, is an up-and-coming star in the field, who appears to feed on accolades, endlessly seeking recognition. Then one day, the tables turn. When Eliezer learns that he is to be awarded the Israel Prize, the most valuable honor for scholarship in the country, his vanity and desperate need for validation are exposed. His son, Uriel, is thrilled to see his father's achievements finally recognized but, in a darkly funny twist, is forced to choose between the advancement of his own career and his father's. Will he sabotage his father's glory? FOOTNOTE is the story of insane academic competition, the dichotomy between admiration and envy for a role model, and the very complicated relationship between a father and son.

84% on the CINEMETER

82% - Mar 4, 2012

I loved this movie. Perfect ending-- everyone is unhappy with the outcome. Fabulous insights into the competition in academia and into the complexity of father-son relationships.
Washington, DC Member

Cinematography and editing was amazing, showing us that even the obscure and cloistered research worlds are about humans -- fathers, sons, marriage, mental illness, love.
Washington, DC Member

Super musical score, lending a lighter tone to the monumental decisions and conflicts presented to the characters.
Washington, DC Member

STL

72% - Mar 25, 2012

I was enthralled by evey moment of this profound film. I began to fear that I would hate whatever way the story would end, but it ended beautfully, like the Unfinished Symphony.
St. Louis Member

An amazing movie. I was totally surprised at how much I enjoyed it. Great acting, but more importantly an insightful story. A totally surprise ending.
St. Louis Member

Early on a bit slow but a tremendeous build-up to a terrific ending.
St. Louis Member

86% - Feb 26, 2012

Archetypal father/son story with amazing performances. This film nailed it. Very creative editing and camera work.
San Francisco Member

This film has depth√¢‚Ç¨¬¶very unpredictable throughout, all challenging and riveting. But the ending was very disappointing and unresolved.
San Francisco Member

I love this film! Like A Separation, it allowed me to enter a completely foreign world (in terms of language, geography, profession) and fina a completely recognizable group of humans with many of the struggles I see as my own.
San Francisco Member

73% - Mar 4, 2012

Enjoyable, intriguing, thoughtful.
Greater New Haven Member

Loved this movie -- intelligent, funny, tackled interesting themes. Great!
Greater New Haven Member

Very intense film -- Eliezer as an angry, isolated professor is so detached that he almost seems inhuman. Uriel, as a seemingly gentle and animated son, becomes like his dad: an angry man. However, he does an amazing disservice to himself by sacrificing his own career/honor by giving up the award.
Greater New Haven Member

MIL

93% - Mar 25, 2012

The ending is perfect and allows me to construct own ending, own conclusions.
Milwaukee Member

Very intriguing story with a plot that was much more complicated that it initially appeared.
Milwaukee Member

Very creative filming.
Milwaukee Member

BOS

81% - Mar 4, 2012

The accumulation of details make for a larger movie. Very provocative story.
Boston Member

Enjoyed the humor in the film and the music that supported it. Music was excellent at setting mood.
Boston Member

I loved how different this film is from so much of current offerings. The end made me gasp when I realized it was the end. Interesting, puzzling ending.
Boston Member

BOCA

96% - Mar 18, 2012

Excellent, powerful, painful.

Boca Raton Member

The envy of the father toward the son was hard to watch, but made for a serious discussion of family issues.

Boca Raton Member

Brilliant depiction of academic life.
Boca Raton Member

ATL

89% - Mar 25, 2012

Riveting. Marvelously written and directed movie gem, especially considering the subject--academic minutiae. The best use of a musical score in recent memory.
Atlanta Member

Phenomenal. Israeli films have come a long way.
Atlanta Member

Fantastic film! One of the best ever. Very intense--held my attention every moment. Great acting.
Atlanta Member

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