Starring Shira Haas (Emmy nominee Esty on “Unorthodox) as Vika and Alena Yiv in the title role, Asia follows a teenage girl and her divorced mother, both Russian immigrants to Israel, as they struggle with family dysfunction and the daughter’s rapidly advancing degenerative disease. 

Asia works hard as a nurse and plays hard in singles bars as she parents her rebellious daughter. But as Vika becomes more physically dependent on her mother, their relationship changes. Both Haas and Yiv deliver nuanced, intimate performances as their characters learn to express their mutual love amid their turmoil.

Asia won three awards at the Tribeca Film Festival, including Best Actress for Haas and the Nora Ephron Award for director and screenwriter Ruthy Pribar, given to a female filmmaker who embodies the spirit of the late writer, director, journalist and feminist. It is also just received 13 nominations out of a possible 14 including the best picture award for the 2020 Israel Ophirs (the Israeli Academy Awards).

Note: Asia portrays sexual situations.