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The Women's Balcony (2016)

Ismach Hatani (original title)
| Comedy, Drama | 26 May 2017 (USA)
The Women's Balcony Poster
A bar mitzvah mishap causes a major rift in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem.

Director:

Emil Ben-Shimon

Writer:

Shlomit Nehama

Stars:

Evelin Hagoel, Igal Naor, Orna Banai | See full cast & crew »
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1 win & 5 nominations. See more awards »

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Cast

Credited cast:
Evelin Hagoel ... Ettie
Igal Naor ... Zion
Orna Banai ... Tikva
Einat Saruf ... Margalit
Avraham Aviv Alush ... Rabbi David (as Aviv Alush)
Itzik Cohen ... Aaron
Yafit Asulin ... Yaffa
Sharon Elimelech ... Ora (as Sharona Elimelech)
Herzl Tobey ... Nissan
Haim Zanati
Assaf Ben-Shimon
Abraham Celektar ... (as Avraham Celektar)
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Ronit Ivgi ... Geula
See full cast »
Edit

Storyline

A bar mitzvah mishap causes a major rift in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem.

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Plot Keywords:

bar mitzvah | orthodox jew | feminism | jewish tradition | See All (4) »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama

Parents Guide:

Add content advisory for parents »
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Details

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew

Release Date:

26 May 2017 (USA) See more »

Also Known As:

The Women's Balcony See more »

Filming Locations:

Jerusalem, Israel See more »
Edit

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$16,620, 5 March 2017

Gross USA:

$1,200,885

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$1,272,517
See more on IMDbPro »

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pie Films See more »
Show more on IMDbPro »

Technical Specs

Runtime:

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1
See full technical specs »

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User Reviews

 
a mixed result
13 January 2018 | by proud_luddite – See all my reviews

In Jerusalem, an Orthodox congregation is in a quandary following an incident that leaves their synagogue in great need of repair: as the elderly rabbi is showing gradual signs of mental decline, a younger rabbi (Aviv Alush) helps the congregation in the mean time but his ultra-orthodox fundamentalism rubs the congregants the wrong way - especially the women.

This film has a delightful gathering of characters who show their humanity and quirkiness simultaneously although this might have been enhanced with maybe a little over-the-top characterizations and situations now and then. Among the performers, Evelin Hagoel stands out as a woman who easily refutes the younger rabbi's forced changes on her community.

"The Women's Balcony" deals well with that age-old inner conflict among the religious - whatever the religion or denomination: the apparent sense of duty and obedience vs. what people know deep in their hearts to be true. This theme works well up to a point but the film is less effective due to the young rabbi's harsh, one-dimensional approach.

He easily comes off as a villain. If the film had given a glimpse as to what drives him, the audience could have been left with the inner-debate of whether to sympathize with him despite his odious actions. Despite the film's good points, this flaw reduces the film to a mixed result.
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