In the middle of the desert, at the junction between two roads going nowhere, “Tethys” was founded. A place where terminally ill patients come to end their lives. These are the final hours of Avshalom.

 

“Tethys Sea”, a personal story for writer\director Shemer Gaon and her talented husband, actor Shlomo Baraba.

This short film tells the intimate tale of Avshalom’s final day, as he comes to terms with ending his life.

Filmed at a unique location in the Israeli desert, the narrative delves into the conscious and unconscious, dreams and hallucinations.

The project offered a great opportunity for cinematographic experimentation. Specialized lenses and filters were used, including the Swing Shift lens set by Century and the Laowa Probe macro lens. To add complexity to the visual narrative, I also used prism glasses from my personal collection.

When all these elements come together—impactful story, the unique location and specialized cinematographic tools—what results is a deeply personal film that takes the audience on an engaging journey.