Noga Erez documentary charts music star's rise through tragedy and triumph

The Jerusalem Film Festival hosted the Israeli premiere of "Noga," a new documentary chronicling the lives of Israeli music star Noga Erez and her musical and personal partner, Ori Rousso. The film, which had its world premiere at the Tribeca Festival earlier this year, offers an intimate, fly-on-the-wall look at their journey.

Erez, attending the screening with Rousso and the film's directors, Austrian brothers Benjamin and Jono Bergmann, described the experience of seeing the movie in Hebrew with a local audience as "crazy, moving, and impossible to comprehend." She emphasized the particular importance of this Israeli premiere, noting that while screenings abroad were significant, seeing it in Jerusalem gave the film a "new meaning."

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Now that you know all the intimate details and more about our life, we would be happy if everyone tells something about themselves. Start!

The documentary, which took five years to produce, covers Erez's ascent as a global music artist. It delves into the difficult period following the October 7th massacre and the outbreak of war, events that threatened her international career. The film also touches upon personal challenges within her relationship with Rousso and their decision to start a family.

"Noga" blends performance footage with scenes of Erez and Rousso creating music and other personal moments. The directors aimed to create a portrait that is both entertaining and insightful, even for those unfamiliar with their music. The film also implicitly celebrates Erez's resilience and refusal to bow to anti-Israel sentiments, showcasing her success in creating music that resonates internationally while navigating complex geopolitical contexts.

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Crazy, moving, impossible to comprehend, to see this film in Hebrew with Hebrew speakers. There’s no doubt it made me nervous, and [seeing it here] gave it a new meaning.