My father, Lev Syrkin, is a Moscow-born artist. He left an illustrious career in the USSR to realize his dream and come to Israel with his entire family in 1972. In Israel, he created dozens of public art works: mosaic murals, sculptures, and prints portraying Jewish and biblical subjects – which was virtually impossible to realize in the USSR. But his freedom of expression came at a great price – he remained outside the local art establishment, the critics ignored him, his salaries were almost minimal, and my mother became our main breadwinner. Throughout the film, I undertake a double mission - to tell my father’s story and to help him realize his life’s dream: the creation of a huge mosaic portraying the dove of peace in the heart of Jerusalem. This film is a journey throughout Israel, connecting my father’s work, his career, and the agony of fulfilling the dream of one artist and one son ­– a fool’s dream. Only during the journey, as we come across his public works and the people living among them, do I begin to understand my father. The viewers become acquainted with a man who is a fighter and a dreamer, an uninhibited humanist and optimist who lives to fulfill his ideal of public art for the Israeli nation. And yet, this nation just glances at his works and continues on its way…


A Fool's Dream

( Doc., 60 Min., 2007, DVD/DVCam, Color)

Written & Directed by: Daniel Syrkin, Ido Bahat
Produced by: Daniel Syrkin, Dana Eden - Donna Productions
Language: Hebrew and Russian
Supported by: Noga Communications – Cannel 8, Israel & Guzik Fund

DVD - For Home Use Only :
$29.90

Synopsis


My father, Lev Syrkin, is a Moscow-born artist. He left an illustrious career in the USSR to realize his dream and come to Israel with his entire family in 1972. In Israel, he created dozens of public art works: mosaic murals, sculptures, and prints portraying Jewish and biblical subjects – which was virtually impossible to realize in the USSR. But his freedom of expression came at a great price – he remained outside the local art establishment, the critics ignored him, his salaries were almost minimal, and my mother became our main breadwinner. Throughout the film, I undertake a double mission - to tell my father’s story and to help...

Awards

  • Special Mention - Jerusalem International Film Festival 2007

Festivals

  • Shanghai International TV Festival, China, 2008
  • San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2008
  • The Jerusalem International Film Festival, Israel 2007

Additional info

Gallery

Festivals

  • Shanghai International TV Festival, China, 2008
  • San Francisco Jewish Film Festival, USA, 2008
  • The Jerusalem International Film Festival, Israel 2007

Educational

  • Stanford University
  • Library of Congress
  • UCLA
  • Ohio State University
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • Arizona State University
  • Duke University
  • Yale University

Awards

  • Special Mention - Jerusalem International Film Festival 2007