AppleTV+ - Losing Alice series available from today

By Mulder, 22 january 2021

“I wonder if I’ll ever create anything again. Maybe it’s over. Maybe this is it. Stay sexy no matter what. Don’t get too comfortable. I’m old. Don’t you dare get botox, you hated it last time. I hate writing, I just love it. I told you not to get the botox! I should have been a really big director by now. I don’t spend enough time with the kids. My fucking face is frozen. I’m not playing my cards right. I spend too much time with the kids. I need new friends. I should have an affair. Anything to feel alive. I love my husband, I can’t stand him. Maybe new young friends. They don’t understand what I’m writing. Old woman meets young woman on a train. I’m a genius. This is garbage. Older woman meets younger woman on a train. It’s an idea. I need to create something. “Art is a guaranty of sanity - Louise Bourgeois”. That’s a good beginning. I’m losing it. I wish I were small again. I want to be big. Losing Alice.” – Sigal Avin

Losing Alice is an Israeli mini-series in the form of a psychological thriller in 8 episodes broadcast internationally from January 22, 2021 on Apple TV+. Apple has partnered with Dori Media on this series, which had been airing on HOT in Israel. Its premiere was held at the We Are One: A Global Film Festival and was part of the Canneséries selection. More than your average thriller, this complex psychological story takes the audience on a journey through the conscious and subconscious of Alice's mind with many twists and turns.

Ayelet Zurer first garnered the attention of film audiences worldwide when Steven Spielberg cast her as Eric Bana’s wife in the Oscar-nominated film Munich . Ayelet went on to star opposite Tom Hanks in the worldwide box office hit Angels & Demons , directed by Ron Howard, and later opposite Russell Crowe in Man of Steel directed by Zack Snyder. From her stage work at the Habima National Theatre to films and television, Ayelet is one of Israel’s most acclaimed actresses. Her unique talent won her the Israeli Film Academy Award for her starring role as the title character in Nina’s tragedies and the Israeli Television Academy for Best Actress Award for her heartbreaking role in In therapy (adapted to HBO’s In treatment ). She was also nominated for her role in Stisel (Netflix) and won again for her lead role in Bnei Aruba (adapted for CBS as Hostages) for which she also won the Golden Nymph award at Monte-Carlo Television Festival. Moreover, Ayelet earned a nomination for best leading actress in the Czech Lion Awards at the Czech Republic lead role in the film Milada (Netflix) Ayelet’s other work includes Sony’s Vantage point, with Dennis Quaid and William Hurt, Samuel Goldwyn’s fugitive pieces along with Stephen Dillane, Lawrence Kasdan’s Darling companion , Paul Schrader’s Adam resurrected with Jeff Goldblum, Last days in the desert with Ewan McGregor. Last knights opposite Clive Owen, MGM’s Ben hur and the successful Marvel series Daredevil opposite Vincent D’Onofrio. Ayelet’s latest leading role of ‘Alice’ in the anticipated mini-series Losing Alice has won her much critical acclaim with her performance being hailed as “brilliant”, a “nuanced tour de force” and a “work of art". Ayelet is also a writer and illustrator. She illustrated two adult books, shorts , short stories by Paulo Coelho, and the best seller Badulina by Gabi Nitzan. She also published her book As of Now which she wrote and illustrated.

Losing Alice is an anthology. The second season will stay in the noir world and explore a new story inspired by the themes of Faust's Tale. It will be set in the art world and revolve around someone who loses her soul in the face of desire.

Synopsis (long version)
Alice Ginor is a filmmaker who has written and directed a few films in the past. We meet her amidst a midlife crisis, feeling lost and irrelevant, suffering from writer’s block with her script. She’s married to David, a successful and handsome actor, and together they raise three daughters. One day, on the train home from Tel Aviv to Zikhron Ya’akov, Alice has an intriguing encounter with Sophie, a beautiful and sexy femme fatale, who seems to be Alice’s biggest fan. Sophie confesses she’s become a screenwriter thanks to Alice and now that she has finished her first script, there’s nothing she would like more than for Alice’s husband David to star in its production. She’s even given him the script already… Rather than feeling threatened, Alice finds herself stimulated by Sophie’s talent, youth and sexuality, in a way she hadn’t experienced for quite a while. After reading Sophie’s script, Alice develops a possessive sentiment towards her, realizing she can achieve self-fulfillment through Sophie, and offers herself as the director. David is less enthusiastic about his wife’s suggestion to direct the erotic thriller in which he’s supposed to star. In the process of shooting the movie, Alice makes unsettling discoveries regarding Sophie. Acquaintances who seem to have disappeared and hinted murder accusations, bring Alice to believe that Sophie’s twisted and violent “fictional” script may actually be based on true events, despite what she had told Alice. Desperate to find answers and solve the mystery, Alice takes on a detective role as well, and tries to figure out the truth behind the script. In spite of the many red flags and warnings along the way, Alice gets sucked into Sophie’s disturbing world and just as Faust sold his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly pleasures and eternal youth, Alice too, is willing to sacrifice everything she has in order to achieve her desire for self-fulfillment. As the story proceeds, it will suddenly become unclear as to who has entered whose world, who will go the farthest to achieve their goal and at what cost.

Losing Alice (2021, Israel; 8 episodes)
Written and directed by Sigal Avin
Produced by Nadav Palti, Tami Mozes Borovitz
Starring Ayelet Zurer, Lihi Kornovski, Gal Toren, Yossi Marshak, Shai Avivi
Music by Tom Armony, Tom Darom, Assa Raviv
Cinematography : Rotem Yaron
Edited by Yael Hersonski
Production companies : Dori Media Darset
Distributed by Apple TV+
Release date : January 22, 2021 (World)
Running time : 45mns