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PRODUCTION / FUNDING US / UK

Helen Mirren to headline Guy Nattiv’s new feature Golda

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- The Academy Award winner will play Golda Meir, Israel’s first female Prime Minister in a thriller telling the stateswoman’s story and her controversial decisions during the Yom Kippur War

Helen Mirren to headline Guy Nattiv’s new feature Golda
Helen Mirren in Golda (© Jasper Wolf)

This week, the first clapperboard slammed on Golda [+see also:
film review
trailer
film profile
]
, the new feature directed by Guy Nattiv (Skin, Mabul, Strangers). The film, which commenced production in London, sees Academy Award winning actress Helen Mirren playing Golda Meir, Israel's first female Prime Minister. Camille Cottin, star of hit series Call My Agent, has also joined the cast. She will portray Lou Kaddar, the stateswoman's long-time personal assistant.

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Described as a "ticking clock-thriller" and penned by Nicholas Martin, the movie will tell the intensely dramatic events, high-stake responsibilities, and controversial decisions that Meir – also known as the "Iron Lady of Israel" – faced during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Her actions, in impossible circumstances, would ultimately decide the fate of millions of lives.

Talking about her new role, Mirren said: "Golda Meir was a formidable, intransigent and powerful leader. It is a great challenge to portray her at the most difficult moment of her extraordinary life. I only hope I do her justice!"

"I have long been an admirer of the great Helen Mirren. She has melted so brilliantly into Golda Meir's character with incredible talent, intelligence, depth and emotion, doing justice to the richness and complexity of this incredible woman," added Nattiv.

Other confirmed cast members are Rami Heuberger (Schlinder’s List), who will portray Meir's Minster of Defence Moshe Dayan and Lior Ashkenazi (the TV series Hit & Run) as David Elazar, the then Chief of Staff. Ellie Piercy, Ed Stoppard, Rotem Keinan, Dvir Benedek, Dominic Mafham, Ben Caplan, Kit Rakusen and Emma Davies will play undisclosed roles.

Heads of technical departments include DoP Jasper Wolf, production designer Arad Sawat, costume designer Sinéad Kidao, hair and make-up designer Karen Hartley, editor Arik Lahav and casting director Alex Johnson.

Bleecker Street and ShivHans acquired US rights to the film, in a deal negotiated by ICM Independent and CAA Media Finance. Embankment have already pre-sold the movie to multiple international territories, including ANZ (Transmission), Italy (Leone), Scandinavia (Scanbox), Benelux (The Searchers), Switzerland (Ascot Elite), Spain, Portugal & Latin America (Sun/Diamond), CIS & Baltics (Exponenta), Greece (Spentzos), South Africa (Film Finity), Israel (United King), Middle East (Front Row), Hong Kong (Golden Scene), India (Lionsgate) and Taiwan (Cai Chang).

Financing is provided by Piccadilly Pictures and Maven Pictures, and has been arranged by Embankment, ICM Independent and CAA Media Finance. Celine Rattray for Maven, and Ian Hutchinson, Robert Whitehouse and Christopher Figg for Piccadilly, are serving as the project's executive producers.

Golda is being produced by Nattiv's own production firm New Native (US), Michael Kuhn for British outfit Qwerty Films, Jane Hooks and Nicholas Martin. Filming in London will continue for six weeks and then will move on location in Israel.

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