The Milky Way
Reading the title, you might think this is a documentary about the galaxy, the solar system and our earth’s relationship to it, or a remake of “The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy”.
Instead, “Milky Way” is the name of a futuristic company where the protagonist, 33-year-old single mother Tala, picks up a job as her music career doesn’t pay the bills for her newborn and herself. Soon, Tala finds it hard to sell the company her breast milk. She can’t stand it anymore and surprisingly is offered an alternative way to provide her precious product directly to one customer. She takes this chance.
This highly intelligent dramedy tackles many important issues of motherhood and social class in a most entertaining way. Director Maya Kenig, supported by a great cast and art department, proves that she is a talent to watch.
Niki Nikitin
Maya Kenig (1979) studied at the Sam Spiegel Film School and at The London Film School. Her short film "Top of the World" has successfully participated in festivals in Israel and around the world. Her first full-length feature film "Off White Lies" (2012) was selected for Berlinale, Busan Film Festival and the Palm Springs Film Festival, was nominated for seven Ophir Awards in Israel (including for best film, best script and best director), and won the best actor award at the Jerusalem Film Festival. She directed, along with her life partner, Gur Bentwich, the full-length documentary "The Bentwich Syndrome", which was selected for Docaviv FF and other festivals around the world. "The Milky Way" is her second full length fiction feature film.
Filmography:
Orhim le-rega (Off White Lies, 2011), Le'at Yoter - Voice Over (2018, co-dir), The Milky Way (2023)