Indo-Israeli co-production 'Murders Too Close - Love too Far' selected for Lakes Noir festival

The Indo-Israeli co-production "Murders Too Close - Love too Far", a murder mystery co-directed by filmmakers Dan Wolman and Manju Borah, has been selected for the Lakes Noir International Film Festival in Italy.

The film, the first Indo-Israeli co-production, will be screened under the Omicidi troppo vicini segment of the festival, which specialises in thrillers, noir and crime films and will be held from September 24 to 27 in Varese and Luino.

Wolman, a renowned Israeli filmmaker known for films including "Floch", "My Michael", "An Israeli Love Story" and "Valley of Strength", co-directed the film with Assamese filmmaker Borah.

The festival will also honour Wolman with its Lifetime Achievement Award, or Premio alla Carriera.

"My heartfelt thanks to Manju Borah who unfortunately cannot join me there and to the entire film crew in Assam for their dedication, talent, and spirit of collaboration, and to our editor, Eyal Amir, for his sensitive and creative work in shaping the film," Wolman told PTI.

"I'm grateful to the festival for this recognition and delighted that the film will meet new audiences," he added.

Wolman had earlier told PTI that the idea for the film emerged in the aftermath of the 2012 Nirbhaya case that shook India.

He recalled attending the New Delhi International Film Festival on December 28, 2012, just days after the December 16 gang rape and murder in Delhi. He said he witnessed large demonstrations and marches, mainly by women, in the city.

"It was then and there that the idea for the film 'Murder Too Close - Love Too Far' was born. I wrote to my friend Manju Borah from Assam about my idea and fortunately she agreed to co-produce and co-direct the film with me," Wolman had said.

According to Wolman, the film explores themes of abuse, violence, corruption, group behaviour, and gang and mob mentality.

"These are a part of life here in Israel as anywhere else in the world. I have made films in America, Europe, Africa and China and all deal with similar stories, issues and problems," he said.

"Murders Too Close - Love too Far" follows two parallel stories of murder and love that gradually intertwine, building tension and sustaining the suspense until the end.

The film features Siddharth Nipon Goswami, Shaminn Mannan, Seema Biswas, Bhagirathi Bai Kadam, Adil Hussain and Diganta Hazarika.