Broken Wings (2002 film)

Broken Wings is a 2002 Israeli drama film directed by Nir Bergman. The film explores themes of grief, family dynamics, and the struggles of coping with loss following the sudden death of a family's patriarch. It focuses on the interconnected lives of the children and the mother as they navigate their individual and collective pain in the aftermath of the tragedy.

The story centers around the Ulman family in Haifa. The mother, Dafna, is a nurse struggling to hold the family together while dealing with her own grief and financial pressures. Her eldest son, Yair, is a promising student who abandons his plans to support the family. The other children, including Maya, the protagonist, and her younger siblings, each grapple with the loss in their own ways, leading to conflict and eventual reconciliation. Maya, in particular, documents her family's experiences through her video camera, providing an intimate perspective on their struggles.

The film received critical acclaim for its realistic portrayal of grief and family relationships, as well as its strong performances by the cast. It won several awards, including the Ophir Award (the Israeli equivalent of the Academy Award) for Best Film.