Nathan Axelrod
Belarusian Israeli filmmaker (1905–1987)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Nathan Axelrod (7 April 1905 – 6 October 1987) was a Belarusian and Israeli pioneering filmmaker. He is known for his "Carmel Diary" newsreels he produced for some 30 years, and his feature-length films.
.jpg)
Life and career
Nathan Axelrod was born on 7 April 1905, in Dubrovna, Russian Empire (now Belarus), to a Jewish family.[1][2][3] He emigrated to Mandatory Palestine in 1926.[2][3] He was involved in Zionist activities, and spent time in prison for this.[1]
Axelrod founded the production company Moledat together with Yerushalayim Sega, one of his relatives.[1] By 1935, he shifted his business to new company called Carmel Films.[1] Axelrod's "Carmel Diary" was a news reel "diary" produced for more than thirty years, and was popular within the Hebrew-speaking public.[1] Between 1927 and 1958 he made about 450 newsreels. His Carmel Diary business was created under Herzliya Studios, until he retired from his work in 1956.[1] It continued to be produced without him under the name "Carmel Diary Herzliya".[1]
Axelrod continued his attempts to create feature films while he made newsreels. In 1932, he served as the cinematographer and editor of "Oded the Wanderer", which was the first full-length film produced in the region.[1]
In 1947, he filmed Jewish detainees at Nazi death camps in Cyprus.[4]
He and his wife Leah had four sons.[5]
Death and legacy
Axelrod died on 6 October 1987, and was survived by his wife, three sons, and grandchildren.[3]
His granddaughter Naama Axelrod was interviewed about his life by Rotem Pesachovish Paz.[6] Many of his newsreels are preserved as the Nathan Axelrod Newsreel Collection at the Jerusalem Cinematheque's Israel Film Archive.[7]
Filmography
- Oded the Wanderer (1932), as cinematographer and editor[8]
- M'Al Hahuravot / Me’al ha-khoravot (Over the Ruins) (1938), as producer
- Don Quixote and Sa'ad Pancha (Hebrew: דן קישוט וסעדיה פנצ'ו, lit. 'Dan Quihote V'Sa'adia Pansa'; 1956), as producer
- True Story of Palestine (Hebrew: עץ או פלסטיין, romanized: Etz O Palestina; 1962), as director along with Joel Silberg and Uri Zohar
- Girls' Paradise Eilat (1964)
