Chapter 7. Escaping Israel: Another World, Madam Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club, and The Golem
Madam Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club (2017), the first feature by Guilhad Emilio Schenker, is a story of a murderous women-only cult. Set in a gothic castle, it looks like no other film that has ever been made in Israel. The club members gather weekly to read the same literary work, Agnon’s “The Lady and the Peddler.” The male guests, invited to the meetings, are murdered and ground into hot dogs.
Questions for discussion
- Which horror tropes and conventions can you identify in Madam Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club ? Which films does it remind you of?
- What characterizes Madam Yankelova as an Israeli film? You may think of the plot, themes, or settings.
- What is the relationship between the local Israeli characteristics and the global horror tropes in Madam Yankelova?
- What was the production history of Madam Yankelova? How did it impact the film?
- What was its audience and critical reception?
Availability
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Roku Channel, Freevee, and other platforms