Directed by Max Azulay & Rosie Yadid
Written by Rosie Yadid
Produced by Sarah Epstein & Rosie Yadid
Twenty-something Louise returns to NYC after university abroad. She is reunited with her firecracker of a Jewish mother, Nadine, and their relationship seems to pick up right where it left off.
While Nadine wants her back for good, Lou is desperately trying not to get too comfortable. When she reveals news of her engagement, old wounds are reopened as Nadine reveals secrets about her own failed marriage.
READ OUR INTERVIEW WITH ROSIE
Tell us a bit about yourself and your filmmaking background.
I’m a multidisciplinary artist and native Nu Yawker living in London. I started out acting and began writing as a way of re-empowering my creativity after discovering how disenfranchising the life of an actor can be, and I have been working on developing a TV series about my delightfully dysfunctional Jewish family for the past who knows how long. Love Ya Like Poison! was the first big step in that process.
What was your inspiration? Why did you decide to make Love Ya Like Poison!?
My mother, force of nature that she is, has a saying: every family is dysfunctional, yours is just rearing its ugly head now. I wanted to tell this story because I am deeply familiar with the complications that are baked into our closest relationships, and I don’t believe anyone walks away unscathed; we love each other, we hurt each other. What is interesting to me is the way this dynamic develops over time— especially on the threshold of adulthood.
What obstacles did you overcome while in the making of this film?
It was a mad rush to get the thing made before I moved back to London for a time, I pulled together a team and just said yes, I couldn’t think too hard or I’d have backed out. Raising the funds was a real struggle. I adapted the pilot I had written to just scenes between mother and daughter, we filmed in my mom’s apartment— I had to kick her out before we started filming! Producing is such a hard job, and not my personal forte, but somehow we made it happen.
Tell us about the journey of getting your film to audiences.
It’s been amazing hearing that the story resonates with people, especially young women who have complicated relationships with their mothers, their bodies, their skin, to food. I’ve touched on a lot of themes that have been personal sticking points for me in my process of learning to love myself and my history.
Words of wisdom. What advice would you give to other filmmakers?
As Nora Ephron said, everything is copy! I find the stories I end up telling are divinely gifted, I walk away from situations thinking, okay okay, I’ll write it down! Life is so absurd, find out what makes you laugh, makes you think, chances are you aren’t the only one.
What are you working on now?
I’m currently on the West End in my dream role, in a play called Bad Jews (very on brand), we’re playing through til Sept 25, come see it if you’re in London! And of course developing the show, working on our pitch and looking forward to whatever happens next!!!