Being the only woman in a male-lead industry can come with so many perils, challenges and conflicts, something which writer/director Klil Kovesh navigates in her film Layers, which stars Swell Ariel Or and Yoel Rozenkier. Or plays Gali, the only female working in the dangerous and difficult job of clearing mines in the southern border areas in Israel. In doing so, Gali goes through many difficult tribulations, not all of which are limited to the occupational hazard. For more information about our review of the film, please look at the recent “BitPix Presents” piece that was recently published. But to tell us about the film in her own words, Klil was gracious enough to give us some of her time to answer a few questions.
Where did the idea for this film come from?
I used to have a similar job when I was younger. I was the only woman among the men, and it often felt like walking through a minefield, besides the job itself. Just think about how many days we spent out there, just us, days and nights, far away from home, working in an intensive job in the open nature.
Were there any big challenges during filming?
It was an extremely hot days, and the protective gear the actors were wearing was very heavy and warm. On top of that, we were shooting in the sun. So, it was quite challenging to stay focused, especially for my actress, but she was so professional and handled it like a queen.
Afterward, while we were in the editing process, On October 7th, my Sound Designer was killed in the attack on Israel. We had almost finished the sound mix, and he had put so much effort and basically all his heart into this film. It took me months to figure out how to finish the film without him.
What did making this film teach you about filmmaking, if anything?
I’ll surprise you by telling you that the film was shot in just two days! That was all the budget we had. So, I definitely learned how to be precise, and it was a great learning experience for my DOP and me on how to work together in a very efficient way.
This film tackles some difficult topics. What made you want to address these issues?
I think it’s something that was burning inside me, something I had to express. It’s a universal situation, featuring a strong and complicated woman, and I believe many women around the world can identify with it.
What’s next for you?
This April, I will be shooting my first feature film, which is already in the production stage. I also have a long version of Layers in development.
Thank you to Klil for taking the time out to answer our questions. Layers is currently launching its own For Your Consideration campaign, and will likely get a lot more attention in the weeks and months going forward. Be sure to be on the lookout for more information about the film as it comes along!
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