Leviah

The film Leviah is a memoir which deals with vulnerability, power, conformity and the loss of agency. The film consists of a collection of memories of serving in the Israeli military and sheds light on a phenomenon that is rarely talked about: the emotional trauma and despair suffered by female soldiers in subordinate positions. In the male-dominated, hierarchical structure of national military service, many women develop eating disorders. They are forced to appear tough on the outside, but at the same time are subjected to sexual harassment. The bodies of the female performers show the extreme conditions of vulnerability and control, as well as the transformation from human to object experienced in a charged social and military environment. Many of Reut Shemesh’s stage plays are accompanied by films. The stage play Leviah was awarded the Dance Theatre Prize of the City of Cologne in 2016 and the film was exhibited at Art Cologne, among other venues.

Cast & Credits

Direction: Reut Shemesh, Ronni Shendar
Film Editing: Ronni Shendar
Choreography & Text: Reut Shemesh
Music: Simon Bauer
Script: Reut Shemesh/ Ronni Shendar
Camera: Ronni Shendar
Performance: Reut Shemesh, Hella Immler
Production: Academy of Media Arts Cologne (KHM) / Reut Shemesh Choreography