Science fiction is no stranger to creative minds full of exciting ideas, compelling stories, and daring concepts. But what often gets overlooked is the sense of loneliness and mental health struggles that often accompany the lives of these brilliant minds, and ‘Immer, Zlaz’ is a film that sheds a light on those rarely discussed aspects.
Directed by Oded Turgeman and written by Uri Levron, ‘Immer, Zlaz’ (Hebrew for ‘Always, Always’) follows the life of Zakkai, a science-fiction author living in Jerusalem. From the outset, we are shown that Zakkai’s life is a fragile balance between functioning in society and allowing his obsessions to take over. He is socially awkward, spends his days lost in his own world, and has difficulty connecting with people.
Despite his occasional bouts of self-criticism, Zakkai is often found hard at work in his stories. We witness how his alter ego, the romantic scientist Yizhar, comes to life in his writing, and get a glimpse into the worlds Zakkai creates, filled with star-crossed lovers, misunderstood scientists, and fantastic creatures of myth and legend. It’s obvious that, despite his inner turmoil, he is a man with a great love for the works of science fiction.
The film examines the solitude of the creative process, as we get to explore Zakkai’s mind and all of its workings. This is done in a way that is both poetic and sympathetic to his plight. We get to see the innermost thoughts and doubts of the creative genius, as well as his devotion to his craft.
Though it may not be the most exciting movie, ‘Immer, Zlaz’ is a thought-provoking drama about the life of a science fiction genius. It’s a deep exploration of the mind of an artist, as well as an examination of the difficulties that come from living an unconventional life in a conventional world. If you’re looking for a unique look into the inner workings of a science fiction genius’s life, ‘Immer, Zlaz’ is definitely worth the watch.