Asia (film)

Asia is a 2020 Israeli drama film directed by Ruthy Pribar. It stars Alena Yiv and Shira Haas in the lead roles as a mother and daughter respectively. The film tells the story of Asia, a young Russian immigrant single mother living in Jerusalem, and her teenage daughter Vika, who has a degenerative disease that is rapidly progressing.

The film explores the complex and often strained relationship between Asia and Vika as they navigate the challenges of Vika's illness. Asia, who had Vika at a young age and struggles with emotional intimacy, attempts to connect with her daughter as Vika's condition worsens. The film delves into themes of motherhood, sacrifice, love, loss, and the challenges of dealing with terminal illness.

Asia premiered at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival, where it won the Nora Ephron Prize and the awards for Best Actress (Haas) and Best Cinematography. It went on to win the Ophir Award for Best Film, making it Israel's official submission for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film, though it was not nominated. The film was generally well-received by critics, who praised its performances, particularly those of Yiv and Haas, as well as its sensitive and nuanced portrayal of a difficult subject.