“Sunday” – When Silence Knocks: Inside the Stop-Motion Short by Hershberg, Kouris & Dombe
In the quiet hum of a modest Notting Hill apartment, an elderly man’s routine is interrupted by a knock that refuses to be ignored. Sunday—a 9-minute stop-motion film directed by Elkie Leonie Hershberg, Tom Kouris, and Hani Dombe—transforms a simple morning ritual into a profound reflection on isolation, memory, and the persistence of change.
The film follows Richard Duncan McNulty, 84, as he sits at his wooden table, drinking tea and reading The Sunday News. The stillness of his morning is suddenly pierced by a persistent sound at the door—an intrusion that threatens to unravel the calm order of his world. What unfolds is both tender and unsettling, a portrait of a man forced to confront the inevitability of time’s interruptions.
A Collaboration of Distinct Voices
The trio behind Sunday are longtime collaborators known for their emotionally charged puppet animation and handcrafted visual style. Hershberg’s script layers subtle emotional textures, while Dombe and Kouris bring the tactile craftsmanship and atmosphere that have defined their studio’s earlier works.
Produced with support from the Makor Foundation for Films, The Lottery Council for Culture & Art, and The Ministry of Culture and Sport, Sunday showcases a growing sophistication in contemporary stop-motion storytelling—where handcrafted realism and emotional restraint meet cinematic precision.
Crafted in Stillness
Every element in Sunday’s world seems to breathe: the steam curling from the teacup, the creases in the newspaper, the faint reflection on polished wood. The production’s handcrafted miniatures and nuanced lighting create an environment that feels as lived-in as its protagonist’s memories.
Sound designer Ori Kadishay and composer Amitai Mann heighten the sense of intimacy with an audio landscape that captures the fragile balance between silence and disturbance. The gentle hum of a clock, the faint shuffle of slippers, and that single insistent knock—all play as characters in their own right.
From Local to Global Recognition
Sunday premiered in the Haifa International Film Festival’s Short Animation Competition and has since traveled to events including Animac (Spain), Monstra (Portugal), and Animix, where it won Best Independent Short Film. That victory also placed it on the shortlist for the Ophir Awards, a major national honor celebrating excellence in film.
The success of Sunday marks another high point for Tom & Hani Studio, whose distinctive aesthetic blends narrative minimalism with tangible emotional depth. In a time when much of animation leans toward spectacle, Sunday stands out for its patience—for finding meaning in the space between words and the silence after the knock.
Credits
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Directors: Elkie Leonie Hershberg, Tom Kouris, Hani Dombe
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Writer: Elkie Leonie Hershberg
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Animation Studio: TOM & HANI Animation Studio
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Music: Amitai Mann, Ori Kadishay
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Sound Design: Ori Kadishay
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Produced With Support From: Makor Foundation for Films, The Lottery Council for Culture & Art, The Ministry of Culture and Sport
Sources
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Haifa International Film Festival
