Synonyms

Name: Synonyms
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Released: October 25, 2019
Duration: 123 min
Rating: 84
Cast: Chris Zastera, Djamel Lazaar, Dolev Ohana, Gaël Raes, Gal Amitai

2019

METASCORE

Universal acclaim based on 21 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Ratings

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5.8

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5.8	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 18 Ratings

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Synonyms

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Movie Details & Credits

Kino Lorber | Release Date: October 25, 2019 | Not Rated

Starring: Chris Zastera, Djamel Lazaar, Dolev Ohana, Gaël Raes, Gal Amitai, Gaya Von Schwarze, Idan Ashkenazi, John Sehil, Jonathan Boudina, Louise Chevillotte, Olivier Loustau, Quentin Dolmaire, Tom Mercier, Uria Hayik, Yehuda Almagor

Movie Facts:

Won the Golden Bear as the best film in competition at the 2019 Berlin International Film Festival.

Summary: In Paris, things do not exactly get off to a good start for the newly arrived Yoav. He knocks on the door of the flat where he's supposed to stay, only to discover the place is empty. While he is taking a bath there, his belongings are stolen. Yet this young Israeli, who has arrived with such great expectations, will not be dissuaded thatIn Paris, things do not exactly get off to a good start for the newly arrived Yoav. He knocks on the door of the flat where he's supposed to stay, only to discover the place is empty. While he is taking a bath there, his belongings are stolen. Yet this young Israeli, who has arrived with such great expectations, will not be dissuaded that easily. Desperate to erase his origins, Yoav sees becoming French as his only hope for salvation. Step one is to replace his language. From now on, he will not utter a single word of Hebrew and his dictionary becomes his constant companion. The necessary visits to the Israeli embassy annoy Yoav – he finds his compatriots to be a total burden – but the naturalization test also has its pitfalls. And the young French couple whom he befriends has some rather strange ideas about how to help him. Based on the real life experiences of writer-director Nadav Lapid's (The Kindergarten Teacher, Policeman), Synonyms explores the challenges of putting down roots in a new place. Yoav's attempts to find himself awaken past demons and open up an existential abyss in this tragicomic puzzle that wisely knows how to keep its secrets. [Kino Lorber]… Expand

Director: Nadav Lapid

Genre(s): Drama, Comedy

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 123 min

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Awards & Rankings

32	#32 Best Movie of 2019

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Metascore

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Critic Reviews

100

Joe Morgenstern

Oct 24, 2019

One word for Nadav Lapid’s Synonyms, a movie with a hero obsessed with words, is astonishing. Other words apply to this Israeli feature, in subtitled French and Hebrew, that’s set in Paris. They include, in no particular order, fascinating, infuriating, frightening, lyrical and befuddling. Plus deadpan funny and frequently stunning as a bittersweet ode to contemporary France, one that’s suffused with New Wave verve. Read full review

100

David Ehrlich

Feb 15, 2019

Lapid’s film is too fresh and intransigent to know how well it will age over time or hold up to repeat viewings, but on first blush it feels like a powerful howl that’s hard to hear clearly, and harder still to get out of your head. Read full review

Bilge Ebiri

Oct 28, 2019

That’s part of the beauty of this film: It games out very real, very human impulses to their surreal breaking points, only to uncover even greater truths. Read full review

Liam Lacey

Nov 7, 2019

Synonyms free-wheeling episodic structure can grow a tad wearying, but Mercier’s aggressively kinetic performance and Lapid’s take-no-prisoners dismantling of the Israeli macho mystique — or French hypocritical superiority — are, in the best way, outrageous. Read full review

David Fear

Nov 1, 2019

It’s an exhilarating and profoundly sorrowful work. Read full review

Jordan Mintzer

Feb 15, 2019

Lapid continues to exhibit a singular blend of intensity and absurdity, as well as a distinct attention to cinematic craft. Read full review

Elizabeth Weitzman

Oct 24, 2019

Filmmaker and subject also share a disdain for restraint, shouting and jostling to ensure we’ve gotten their point. But while their parallel passions aren’t exactly subtle, they do make their mark. Read full review

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User Reviews

Extrimeman

Oct 25, 2019

Nadav Lapid makes his film that while having interesting ideas conveys them in the most annoying and obvious ways possible. He takes empty shells of a characters and makes them do weird stuff, and ironically - it feels so artificial that you start "seeing" the person behind a camera tryingNadav Lapid makes his film that while having interesting ideas conveys them in the most annoying and obvious ways possible. He takes empty shells of a characters and makes them do weird stuff, and ironically - it feels so artificial that you start "seeing" the person behind a camera trying desperately to weird you out. And failing. Yoav only starts to feel like a character at the very end of the film. Others are nothing but shells, machines for shock value. If you want to see something actually weird and uncanny go watch any of the Lanthimos films.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

Ananisapta

Apr 11, 2020

Theater of the absurd that seems more anti-Semitic than satirical. We found nobody to like or admire. The French characters seemed to constitute a lost generation just waiting for a pandemic to clean up on them. Plenty of full frontal nudity but not where I, as a hetero male, might haveTheater of the absurd that seems more anti-Semitic than satirical. We found nobody to like or admire. The French characters seemed to constitute a lost generation just waiting for a pandemic to clean up on them. Plenty of full frontal nudity but not where I, as a hetero male, might have appreciated it. Lots of suggestions of bisexuality but little beyond that. One wonders what motivated the writer of this sad spectacle. I'll give it a 3 for artsy-fartsy but that's being generous.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

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