Ephraim Kishon

Writing

Ephraim Kishon

Born 1924-08-23 · Budapest, Hungary

Ephraim Kishon was a Hungarian-born Israeli author, playwright, and film director, renowned for his satirical works that humorously depicted Israeli society. Born as Ferenc Hoffmann in Budapest, he survived the Holocaust by escaping from a Nazi labor camp. After World War II, he immigrated to Israel in 1949, where he adopted the name Ephraim Kishon. Kishon became one of Israel's most celebrated writers, publishing numerous satirical columns, books, and plays. His notable works include the film Sallah Shabati (1964), which won a Golden Globe Award and was nominated for an Academy Award, and The Policeman (1971), which also received international acclaim. Kishon's sharp wit and keen observations made him a beloved figure in Israeli culture. He passed away in Appenzell, Switzerland, at the age of 80.

Acting credits

Behind the camera

The Fox in the Chicken Coop poster
7.3

Amitz Dolniker, an Israeli politician who speaks way to much has a heart attack in the middle of his speech. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital the doctor orders him to "go someplace quite, rest, and don't make speeches". His young assistant immediately suggest they go to Switzerland, however Dolniker had taken a vow not to leave Israel unnecessarily, so he comes up with a different idea - going to a remote village where they have never heard of him, so he would not be asked to make any speeches. As they arrive, it turns out that not only the villagers have never heard of Dolniker, but they have also never heard of running water, electricity, phones, and most importantly: TV, Radio, and newspapers... so its only a matter of time before Dolniker or the villagers go bananas...

The Fox in the Chicken Coop

1978

The Fox in the Chicken Coop poster
7.3

Amitz Dolniker, an Israeli politician who speaks way to much has a heart attack in the middle of his speech. In the ambulance on the way to the hospital the doctor orders him to "go someplace quite, rest, and don't make speeches". His young assistant immediately suggest they go to Switzerland, however Dolniker had taken a vow not to leave Israel unnecessarily, so he comes up with a different idea - going to a remote village where they have never heard of him, so he would not be asked to make any speeches. As they arrive, it turns out that not only the villagers have never heard of Dolniker, but they have also never heard of running water, electricity, phones, and most importantly: TV, Radio, and newspapers... so its only a matter of time before Dolniker or the villagers go bananas...

The Fox in the Chicken Coop

1978

No artwork available
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Der Trauschein

1983

No artwork available
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Der Trauschein

1983

No artwork available
9.0

No synopsis available yet.

Der Trauschein

1983

No artwork available
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Zieh den Stecker raus, das Wasser kocht

1969

The Policeman poster
6.9

Azulai is a policeman in Jaffa, whose incompetence is only matched by his soft-heartedness. His superiors want to send him to early retirement, but he would like to stay on the force, and the criminals of Jaffa don't want to see him leave either...

The Policeman

1971

The Policeman poster
6.9

Azulai is a policeman in Jaffa, whose incompetence is only matched by his soft-heartedness. His superiors want to send him to early retirement, but he would like to stay on the force, and the criminals of Jaffa don't want to see him leave either...

The Policeman

1971

The Policeman poster
6.9

Azulai is a policeman in Jaffa, whose incompetence is only matched by his soft-heartedness. His superiors want to send him to early retirement, but he would like to stay on the force, and the criminals of Jaffa don't want to see him leave either...

The Policeman

1971

Sallah poster
6.8

Sallah Shabati, the patriarch of a big family recently arrived to Israel from Yemen, tries to make money and get better housing, in a country that can barely provide for its own and is in the midst of absorbing hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

Sallah

1964

Sallah poster
6.8

Sallah Shabati, the patriarch of a big family recently arrived to Israel from Yemen, tries to make money and get better housing, in a country that can barely provide for its own and is in the midst of absorbing hundreds of thousands of Jewish refugees from Arab countries.

Sallah

1964

The Big Dig poster
7.0

A slapstick comedy lampooning bureaucracy and the madness of everyday life in Israel centers on an escaped lunatic who digs up the streets of Tel-Aviv with a drill.

The Big Dig

1969

The Big Dig poster
7.0

A slapstick comedy lampooning bureaucracy and the madness of everyday life in Israel centers on an escaped lunatic who digs up the streets of Tel-Aviv with a drill.

The Big Dig

1969

The Big Dig poster
7.0

A slapstick comedy lampooning bureaucracy and the madness of everyday life in Israel centers on an escaped lunatic who digs up the streets of Tel-Aviv with a drill.

The Big Dig

1969

No artwork available
9.0

A ten-year-old Israeli boy whose father died years earlier during the Six-Day-War is determined to find out more about his father's death. He skips school and, with the help of a friendly cab driver, heads to Jerusalem to find the men who fought with his father's unit and learn the exact circumstances. During the drive from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, the cabbie provides a history of the establishment of the Jewish state

The Going Up of David Lev

1973

No artwork available
10.0

No synopsis available yet.

Zieh den Stecker raus, das Wasser kocht

1986

Ervinka poster
6.8

A good-natured but incorrigible layabout becomes embroiled in a plot to rob the Israeli lottery, all the while indulging in his boundless zeal for mischief and romance.

Ervinka

1967

Ervinka poster
6.8

A good-natured but incorrigible layabout becomes embroiled in a plot to rob the Israeli lottery, all the while indulging in his boundless zeal for mischief and romance.

Ervinka

1967

Ervinka poster
6.8

A good-natured but incorrigible layabout becomes embroiled in a plot to rob the Israeli lottery, all the while indulging in his boundless zeal for mischief and romance.

Ervinka

1967

Marriage Agreement poster
6.0

After 20 year Elimelech and his wife, Shifra, rediscover their love for each other while searching for the marriage agreement which is needed for Ayala's, their daughter, wedding.

Marriage Agreement

2008