Daughter of Director Roni Pinkovich: "The Cultural World Chose to Sweep My Father's Death Under the Rug"
Actress Eyan Yoel Pinkovich is working on a series inspired by the life and death of her father, renowned director Roni Pinkovich, who chose euthanasia after a 30-year battle with multiple sclerosis.
In December 2020, at the age of 56, Israeli actor and theater director Roni Pinkovich chose to end his life through euthanasia in Switzerland after about 30 years of coping with multiple sclerosis. Pinkovich, who in his final years was confined to a wheelchair, left behind his wife, former actress Tomi Yoel, and three daughters, including actress Eyan Yoel Pinkovich.
Recently, Eyan revealed that she is working on a series inspired by the events surrounding her father's death. In a personal post, she claimed that the world of culture chose, in some way, to sweep his death under the rug, noting that no memorial evening was ever held and no project was created in his name.
"It is a fictional crime drama"
In a conversation with mako, she discusses the upcoming project:
"It is fictional, based on our story, but more in the direction of a crime drama. The project is still in its infancy; I am currently at the stage of finding a production house. Working on this is, first and foremost, a process I am going through with myself. At first, I didn't allow myself to be angry, but I suddenly realized that I also have disappointment and anger—complex emotions I discovered within myself."
Eyan is also reading her father's diaries: "He burned what he didn't want us to read. I realized there was a huge difference between what my family knew and how the public perceived him. He was a very private person and feared being seen as weak. I want the series to correct that perception."
"People are uncomfortable with death by choice"
In her post, Eyan wrote: "I feel that people around did not give my father the proper respect. We are talking about one of the greatest theater directors who made hits and changed viewers' lives. Why? Is it because it was a death by choice? Or because it was a secret?"
She explains that the industry showed indifference: "There were cases where we were literally told he was no longer relevant. It is a slap in the face. Once people have no interest in a person, they stop caring about his memory or his work. But I hope that by the sixth anniversary of his death, we will hold a proper memorial."
Eyan, a graduate of the Beit Zvi acting school, notes that the series is a way to process trauma and address a taboo subject. "I am sure that if he were alive, he would be sitting and writing this series with me," she concludes.
