Halisa - Hartford Jewish Film Festival

Set in a mixed-ethnic, working-class neighborhood of Haifa called Halisa, this deeply felt Israeli drama centers on Sarah (played brilliantly by Noa Koler), a 40-something nurse at the local children’s health clinic whose greatest wish – becoming a mother – has so far eluded her. When she forms a tentative, compassionate bond with a young mother grappling with her own struggles, things get complicated. The film weaves the very private terrain of infertility and desire into the wider social terrain of class, identity and belonging, and the result is a portrait of motherhood and sacrifice that feels both intimate and urgent.

Already garnering major recognition, Halisa is the winner of the Jury Prize – Best Film in the Israeli Feature Film Competition at the 2024 Haifa International Film Festival and was honored with five nominations at the 2024 Israeli Film Academy (Ophir) Awards including Best Film, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.