VOW (2015) — Short Fiction

“ I wanted to look at silence—not as weakness, but as something that accumulates, transforms, and eventually explodes. Vow is about a child who understands that survival sometimes requires action, even when the cost is unbearable.”
— Netalie Braun

Logline
A lonely young girl, trapped between silence and violation, makes a radical vow to reclaim power and protect her mother.

Synopsis
Tamar is a lonely, overweight nine-year-old girl. Going through puberty and enduring daily insults about her appearance is part of her routine—but it is far from her greatest burden. An only child to a remote, emotionally restrained mother, and a father whose sexually charged relationship with her is manifested in a nightly routine, Tamar takes a vow of love: she resolves to rearrange her home environment and reclaim her power—this time as her mother’s protector.

Awards & Festivals

  • Best Short Film, Jerusalem International Film Festival (2015)

  • Best Director, Tel Aviv Student Film Festival – Independent Film Competition (2015)

  • First Prize, Seoul International Women’s Film Festival, South Korea (2015)

  • Palm Springs International ShortFest & Film Market, USA – Official Selection

  • New York Jewish Film Festival, Lincoln Center, USA – Official Selection

  • Olhares do Mediterrâneo, Lisbon, Portugal – Official Selection

Cast & Crew

Cast: Rebeka Shalom, Maya Gasner, Shimon Mimran

Crew

  • Director & Screenwriter: Netalie Braun

  • Producers: Ronen Sagie, Netalie Braun

  • Director of Photography: Itay Marom

  • Editor: Gideon Latzman

  • Art Direction: Hagar Brotman

  • Sound: Vitaliy Grinshpun

  • Sound Design: Michael Gurevitch

  • Original Score: Hila Lahav

Press / Notes

Technical Details

  • Running time: 28 minutes

  • Country: Israel

  • Genre: Drama

  • Shooting Format: HD

  • Language / Subtitles: Hebrew / English

  • Financial Support: New Fund for Cinema and Television (NFCT)