- This profoundly moving film explore the clandestine struggle of three women fighting for their right to love within their Orthodox Communities in Jerusalem. All three are lesbians, and members of a secret support group called the "Ortho-Dykes".—Anonymous
- Keep Not Silent (OrthoDykes) is the Israeli Academy winner for best film 2004, first documentary made by Israeli director and producer Ilil Alexander. With various cinematic inventions, the film brings the clandestine struggle of three orthodox lesbians; a struggle, which is full of compassion and love, as they seek for acceptance within their own religious communities in Jerusalem.
The film won numerous international awards in film Festivals in Israel. Europe, North America and the Far East, including best director, best doc., audience awards and others. It premiered at IDFA Amsterdam and was shown on BBC (uk), Sundance channel (U.S), CBC (Canada), ABS (Australia), DR (Danmark), Polish TV, etc. and was nominated for Best International Television Documentary, at the Grierson Awards UK 2005.
Lesbianism is generally viewed as forbidden in Orthodox Judaism. In Jerusalem, a number of Orthodox Jewish lesbians formed a group called OrthoDykes for mutual support . One is Yudit, a daughter of a Rabbi, single and trying to have her parents accept her 'forbidden' wedding with her girlfriend. Another is Miriam-Ester (pseudonym), who is married to a man and has ten children whom she love so much and wouldn't want to harm them. She used to suppress her lesbian feelings in order to keep her marriage as there was too much to lose, but she just cannot anymore. Third is Ruth, another married lesbian, whose husband agrees to accept her with her girlfriend, as he loves her and wouldn't agree to judge her for her real feelings and desires. All three are seeking for ways to keep their loyalty to themselves, as well as to their children, husbands and God.
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