Lights Out / the movie

First there was the book, Lights Out (Sifriat Poalim books, 1981). Moshe Oren, who was born on Kibbutz Mizra in the Jezreel Valley, relates the story of an unusual night in the children’s house on the kibbutz in a series of short, playful, rhythmic songs.
Two years later (1983), the play, Lights Out, was performed at Bimat Hakibbutz Theatre (1983), with Oren’s play and songs accompanied by Naftali Wagner’s delightful melodies and musical arrangements.
Almost twenty years later, Lights Out returns in a new digital version (E-Vrit Books, 2024), combining the original illustrations by Arnon Avni (kibbutz Nirim) with moving color illustrations by Moshik Lin (kibbutz Netzer-Sireny).
And now the film, Lights Out (2024, on YouTube) that brings it all to the screen. A surprising and touching celebration of image and color, words and music.

Based on the book by Moshe Oren, Kibuy Orot (Lights Out), Sifriat Poalim books, 1981
Screenplay, songs, and narration by Moshe Oren 
Design and production by Yair Kaplan
Music by Naftali Wagner
Illustrations by Arnon Avni
From Kibuy Orot, Sifriat Poalim, 1981
Illustrations by Moshik Lin
From Lights Out (the English version)
Moshe Oren © All rights reserved

Including scenes from Lights Out – a play for the stage
Performed by Bimat Hakibbutz (The Kibbutz Theater), 1983
Play and lyrics by Moshe Oren
Music and melodies by Naftali Wagner
Directed by Yochanan Harson
Cast: Orit Bargal-Walker, Tamar Azaria, Noam Peleg, David Rona (Toto), Ahuva Rotzky
Musicians: Uri Ophir (bass guitar), Gary Rozen (guitar), Lev Blenkin (saxophone), Nissim Yemini (drums), Naftali Wagner (piano)
The music was recorded at Kibbutz Haogen Recording Studio
Film clips of the play from the television program Zehu Ze!, 1983, courtesy of Israel Educational Television, Ramat Aviv.
Archive photographs courtesy of:
Kibbutz Mizra Archive, photographs from the estate of Kurt Franke
Irit Lapidot, photographs from the estate of Moshe Lapidot