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Kadosh

  • 1999
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 50m
IMDb RATING
6.9/10
2K
YOUR RATING
Kadosh (1999)
ComedyDrama

Two sisters become victims of the patriarchal, ultra-orthodox society.Two sisters become victims of the patriarchal, ultra-orthodox society.Two sisters become victims of the patriarchal, ultra-orthodox society.

  • Director
    • Amos Gitai
  • Writers
    • Eliette Abecassis
    • Amos Gitai
  • Stars
    • Yaël Abecassis
    • Yoram Hattab
    • Meital Berdah
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    6.9/10
    2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Amos Gitai
    • Writers
      • Eliette Abecassis
      • Amos Gitai
    • Stars
      • Yaël Abecassis
      • Yoram Hattab
      • Meital Berdah
    • 43User reviews
    • 19Critic reviews
    • 70Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 3 wins & 9 nominations total

    Photos10

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    Top cast12

    Edit
    Yaël Abecassis
    Yaël Abecassis
    • Rivka
    Yoram Hattab
    Yoram Hattab
    • Meïr
    Meital Berdah
    Meital Berdah
    • Malka
    • (as Meital Barda)
    Uri Klauzner
    Uri Klauzner
    • Yossef
    • (as Uri Ran-Klausner)
    Yussuf Abu-Warda
    Yussuf Abu-Warda
    • Rav Shimon
    Leah Koenig
    Leah Koenig
    • Elisheva
    • (as Lea Koenig)
    Sami Huri
    Sami Huri
    • Yaakov
    • (as Sami Hori)
    Rivka Michaeli
    Rivka Michaeli
    • Gynaecologist
    Samuel Calderon
    Samuel Calderon
    • Uncle Shmouel
    Noa Dori
    Noa Dori
    • Noa
    Shireen Kadivar
    • Lexa
    Amos Gitai
    Amos Gitai
    • Man in the bar
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • Amos Gitai
    • Writers
      • Eliette Abecassis
      • Amos Gitai
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews43

    6.92K
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    Featured reviews

    judyvla

    Deeply moving

    I saw Kadosh in New York last fall and was deeply moved by it. I have no personal experience of orthodox Judaism, but have long been fascinated by its ideas and rituals; most of my "knowledge" comes from reading I B Singer, which may be more folkloric and colorful than accurate. I'm no fan of orthodoxy in any form, and this film only strengthened my feelings. I was weeping for both Malka and Rivka by the end--two strong, strongly emotional characters brought to grief by the strictures of their religion. It's really interesting to read the earlier comments on this page--I am so unfamiliar with the orthodox world, and was so gripped by the sheer emotional wallop of the story, that perhaps I was shaken from my usual critical stance. I hope to to see the film again
    6Marat-2

    A Postcard From The Holy Land

    I saw "Kadosh" when it was screened in Israel for the first time, following its participation in the Canne Festival. Amos Gitai, the most acclaimed Israeli film maker abroad, made me understand here why he is not exactly known inside his country. Well, "Kadosh" is a postcard. It shows the ultraorthodox jewish society in Jerusalem in an extremely stereotypic view, developing a story, that most of it looks too much "Hollywood like" to any person living in Israel. I must say the movie is totally uneven, moving between interesting and entertaining towards grotesque and melodramatic. Yael Abekasis, Yoram Hatab and Uri Klausner make wonderful parts, unlike the newcomer Meital Barda as an orthodox girl cheating her husband with a music band leader (Sami Hori). Both of them get mostly irritating lines, which often bring the movie towards being shallow and childish. Anyway, I wouldn't watch it again, but I guess it was worth spending a couple of hours in the movie theater. My Grade: *** (out of *****)
    Nozz

    An unfriendly distortion

    Judging from the number of comments, KADOSH seems to have received more international exposure than many better Israeli films have. I would hate to think that the reason is that KADOSH encourages the audience to feel superior to the Orthodox Jews, because as other comments have pointed out, the film misrepresents the lifestyle of Orthodox Jews in both big ways and small. I understand there is a tiny industry of ultra-Orthodox Jewish video dramas in Israel, and it would be interesting to see in contrast how these people portray themselves; but few outsiders are likely ever to see those productions because of their commercial appeal is nil. The portrayal of the ultra-Orthodox is left to well-intentioned distortions like THE SECRETS (a more recent Israeli film) and to viciously intended distortions like this one, in which the camera moves from a dead body to a shelf of Jewish books and a Jewish candelabrum as if to say "The blame lies here."
    7stevekrief

    Above the controversy rises Meital Berdah's talent

    Some have called this movie anti-religious, other argue that it shows Israel is a real democracy, financing movies which criticize all the aspects of its society, probably in a more abstruse way than European cinema today. More than the controversies and even the story, I remember the actors' talent. Especially Meital Berdah. In the movie, she plays the role of Yaël Abecassis' sister. I would think that in real life, she's Jennifer Connelly's sister. She has the same worrying strength on screen, the same charisma. When Connelly leaves her nightmares in Requeim For A Dream, we're both afraid and attracted by her eyes. The feeling is shared when Berdah leaves her neighborhood for a better life, trying to let a bitter marital experience slide, washed down the drinks of lowlifes who hang around the bar where her lover works.
    jeffreydorfman

    Inaccurate enough to ruin it

    I have many ultra-Ortodox cousins in Jerusalem. As much as I love them, I will be forever uncomfortable with the status of women in the community. One of my cousins, who was in a way the younger sister I never had, is now stuck in what I view as a terrible marriage that would never last in most Western societies -- rightfully so, I think. Yet, there, it is accepted and she must live with it. (Just one example of many...)

    Having said that, this movie does not portray this world with any truth, actual or figurative. This is not a story as it might have happened. Sad in a way, as the truth could have been used to make some aspects of the point Amos Gitai seems to wish to make. He also neglects the warm, loving and spiritually nurturing environment that the haredi world can be.

    So, if you watch this cardboard movie, please remember it has nothing to do with the texture of reality.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Amos Gitai began shooting on February 2, 1999 and shot the majority of the sequences in continuity. He then edited his film at the rate of 18 hours per day, to send it in mid-April to Gilles Jacob, the president of the Cannes Film Festival, who selected it immediately.
    • Goofs
      The scene where Yossef the zealot prays loudly for understanding the Torah is completely preposterous. An Orthodox Jew would always pray silently, even when alone. To pray in such a boorish manner would only invite ridicule.
    • Alternate versions
      The "Making of" featurette shows several scenes cut from the movie, including one of Rivka preparing a meal.
    • Connections
      Featured in A History of Israeli Cinema (2009)
    • Soundtracks
      Silence
      from "Once Upon a Time in the South"

      Performed by Dino Saluzzi

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    FAQ17

    • How long is Kadosh?Powered by Alexa

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • June 10, 1999 (Israel)
    • Countries of origin
      • Israel
      • France
    • Language
      • Hebrew
    • Also known as
      • Кадош
    • Filming locations
      • Wailing Wall, Old City, Jerusalem, Israel(Rivka prays at the wall)
    • Production companies
      • Agav Hafakot
      • MP Productions
      • Le Studio Canal+
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $736,812
    • Gross worldwide
      • $770,132
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 50 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Dolby SR
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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