Celebrating a Decade Since David Bowie's Death, at the Tel Aviv Cinematheque

The Tel Aviv Cinematheque marks a decade since the death of David Bowie (1947-2016), a unique artist who influenced music, cinema, fashion, and pop culture for five decades. Bowie, known for his vast talent and ability to shape numerous characters and identities, successfully broke boundaries and injected innovation and magic into every project he participated in, from his iconic stage performances to unforgettable cinematic roles. As part of the program, the Tel Aviv Cinematheque will screen films in which Bowie starred or that commemorate his life and work, ranging from classics like "The Man Who Fell to Earth" and "Labyrinth," through the iconic film "Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence," to the documentary film "David Bowie: Moonage Daydream," which reveals his creative vision and the music that made him a global legend.

The Films to be Screened:

Merry Christmas, Mr. Lawrence:UK/Japan/New Zealand / 1983 / Length: 123 minutesDirected by: Nagisa Oshima | Starring: David Bowie, Tom Conti, Ryuichi SakamotoLanguage: Japanese, English, Hebrew subtitlesA Japanese prisoner-of-war camp, WWII. The arrival of a new British prisoner causes an uproar between the prisoners and the camp commander, a harsh Japanese officer who views his captives as cowards. The conflict between the sides escalates, along with the tension between the two men. Sophisticated, expressionistic cinema, oscillating between reality and hallucination, featuring tremendous performances by David Bowie, Tom Conti, Takeshi Kitano (before he became a star director), and the wonderful musician Ryuichi Sakamoto, who also wrote the unforgettable soundtrack. 14.1.2026, Wednesday, 20:30

David Bowie: Moonage Daydream:USA / 2022 / Length: 140 minutesDirected by: Brett Morgen | Language: English, Hebrew subtitlesDavid Bowie: Moonage Daydream is an experiential cinematic journey exploring the work, vision, and music of one of the most important artists in popular culture. The film was directed by the esteemed filmmaker Brett Morgen in official cooperation with the managers of Bowie's estate. The film is the product of half a decade of work and presents footage never before seen on screen, video art, rare performances, and all of Bowie's greatest hits.

Cannes Film Festival 2022, Jerusalem Film Festival 2022. 16.1.2026, Friday, 21:15

Labyrinth - Subtitled | Screening + Meeting with Yashiv Cohen:USA/UK / 1986 / Length: 101 minutesDirected by: Jim Henson | Starring: David Bowie, Jennifer ConnellyLanguage: English, Hebrew subtitlesA musical fantasy for the whole family. Sarah, a young girl, enters the labyrinth to rescue her kidnapped half-brother, befriending the evil goblins and discovering the boundaries of imagination and reality. Following the screening, a fascinating meeting with Yashiv Cohen will take place to mark a decade since Bowie's death.17.1.2026, Saturday, 10:30

The Man Who Fell to Earth:UK / 1976 / Length: 138 minutesDirected by: Nicolas Roeg | Starring: David Bowie, Rip Torn, Candy ClarkLanguage: English, Hebrew subtitlesOne of the best sci-fi films of all time. Nicolas Roeg utilizes David Bowie's androgynous qualities and casts him in the role of an alien who arrives on Earth to arrange water shipments for his dying planet. Since he arrives in the USA, he pretends to be a British national and thus does not arouse suspicion, even though he carries formulas for nine new patents. Within three years, he controls an empire worth $300 million. Roeg moves as usual, using parallel editing, between times and dimensions, offering endless possibilities for interpreting and perceiving reality intellectually and aesthetically. As in his other films, there is quite a bit of wild sex, although in the version distributed in Israel, some scenes were shortened by the censorship board. 17.1.2026, Saturday, 14:00

To the main page on the Tel Aviv Cinematheque website

(Photo credit: Courtesy of Universal Pictures)