NEW AUTEURS
AFI ALUM ASAPH POLONSKY TALKS ONE WEEK AND A DAY
In ONE WEEK AND A DAY (SHAVUA VE YOM), Asaph Polonsky’s (AFI Class of 2012) wry and moving dramedy set in Israel, a husband and wife grieving the death of their son find their own ways to cope: she tries to return to life as normal while he turns humorously to his late son’s medicinal weed.
AFI: Why did you choose comedy as the genre to tell this story about grief?
Asaph Polonsky: The idea for the film first came to mind (and heart) when the girlfriend of a good friend of mine passed away. We were a bit younger and she was sick for a long time. It was a surprise when it happened, and he called to tell me that she had died just a few hours ago. With a few other friends I went over to his place. We were sitting there, with nothing to say until someone asked: “Do you still have any of her medicinal weed?” Into such a tragic moment came a really funny one. Just the question itself made us all feel uncomfortable, but also released some tension.
AFI: How did this idea come to you?
AP: When my aunt was sick and passed away, I noticed how everyone [dealt] with it differently; there’s no right or wrong way and it is all very subtle. I wanted to investigate that. In the film, they are both dealing but not dealing. Vicky, the mom, on the surface is dealing, but inside she is broken and has no clue how to move forward, despite trying to show otherwise.
AFI: Your lead actor Shai Avivi is a professional comedian. What did he bring to the character of Eyal that surprised you?
AP: Many think that the role of Eyal was written for Shai, but that is completely the opposite. Once I met him for coffee and got to know him and not just his persona, I felt that he would not only be able to bring what was on the page, but also make it his own. Because Shai is naturally funny, we never had to play and push the humor but just had him in the moment. It’s amazing what he can do with a few crumbs on a table, a shoe and a bowl. You can’t write that stuff.