Synonyms 2019

Arrival in Paris and immediate robbery

Yoav arrives in Paris and moves into an empty apartment. While bathing, his belongings are stolen, leaving him naked and vulnerable. He knocks on surrounding doors for help, and Émile and Caroline enter the flat to find him unconscious in the bathtub; they give him clothes and some money.

Neighbors welcome him and form a connection

Émile, the son of a wealthy industrialist, feels immediately drawn to Yoav. Caroline, who studies oboe, welcomes him into their circle. From this moment, Yoav's life in Paris becomes intertwined with the couple.

Yoav begins learning French

Yoav dedicates himself to learning French, memorizing words and their meanings with a small dictionary. He begins murmuring French synonyms to himself in the street, a sign of both progress and alienation. His language study helps him navigate Paris while keeping parts of his past at bay.

Moves to a run-down flat and stays in touch

Yoav moves out and rents a small, run-down one-room flat, living precariously. He remains in contact with Émile and Caroline, and learns that Émile is writing a novel. The arrangement roots him more deeply in their shared world.

Security job and antisemitism tensions

Yoav takes a job as a security guard at the Israeli embassy in Paris, but his anti-Israeli stance and refusal to speak Hebrew make him unpopular. His colleague Yaron embodies a defensively antisemitic view of Europe and often provokes reactions from passersby. The budding friendship with Yaron does not last long.

Job loss after a provocative incident

He loses the job when he lets a waiting crowd into the embassy premises without checking identities while shouting 'Open borders!'. The moment underscores his estrangement from the role and from those around him. The fallout strains his ties to the embassy and his own beliefs.

Father arrives; Yoav refuses to meet him

Yoav's father arrives in Paris, but Yoav refuses to meet him directly, sending Émile in his place. The visit exposes the distance between generations and the immigrant’s struggle with homeland ties.

Confrontation with father via English

The father manages to contact Yoav, who refuses to speak to him in Hebrew and asks him to leave, speaking in English instead. The exchange highlights Yoav’s ongoing rejection of his native tongue and homeland.

Yoav recounts his life to Émile

Yoav gives the story of his life to Émile for the first time, offering a window into his past in Israel and his reasons for coming to Paris. Émile agrees to listen, seeing potential material for a novel.

Affair and marriage for a passport

Yoav begins an affair with Caroline and, at Émile's urging, marries her to obtain a French passport. To complete the integration, he must attend an integration course. The arrangement exposes the pragmatism guiding his relationships in the city.

Modeling work leads to porn industry contact

To earn money, Yoav advertises as a model and soon comes into contact with a pornography producer. He is pressured to perform explicit acts and to speak Hebrew on camera, which unsettles him. He realizes his past and language become liabilities on set.

Escape from a porn shoot

He flees a later porn shoot with a Lebanese woman when forced to wear a soldier's uniform, and the co-star refuses to have sex with him on camera. The experience deepens his sense of alienation and disconnection from the life he is trying to construct in Paris.

Request to retract stories

Yoav runs to see Émile and asks him to retract his stories; Émile agrees to retract them, revealing the strain between truth and friendship. The moment marks a turning point in their already fragile bond.

Growing rift with Émile and Caroline

Yoav senses that Émile is growing tired of their friendship, and tensions mount with Caroline after a quarrel over a performance with her orchestra. The dynamic underscores the fragility of his social ties in Paris.