Chapter 7. Escaping Israel: Another World, Madam Yankelova’s Fine Literature Club, and The Golem
The Golem (2018) by the Paz brothers is a new take on the old Jewish legend of a man-made monster. In its most famous version, Rabbi Loew of Prague, fashions a golem out of clay to protect the Jewish community in times of danger. The Paz brothers reimagine the golem as a young child and his creator as Hannah, a young woman grieving the loss of her son. Hannah wants to protect her community from the violent invaders, but she also rebels against its male-defined rules.
Questions for discussion
- Which horror tropes and conventions can you identify in The Golem? Which films does it remind you of?
- What characterizes The Golem 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 The Golem?
- What was the production history of The Golem? How did it impact the film?
- What was its audience and critical reception?
Availability
Streaming on Amazon Prime Video, Kanopy, Vudu, Roku Channel, and other platforms