The Women's Balcony (2016)

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

1 win & 5 nominations.

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

Storyline

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

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Plot Keywords:

bar mitzvah | orthodox jew | feminism | jewish tradition | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Details

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew

Release Date:

26 May 2017 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Women's Balcony

Filming Locations:

Jerusalem, Israel

Box Office

Opening Weekend USA:

$19,650, 2 June 2017, Limited Release

Gross USA:

$1,200,885, 12 November 2017

Company Credits

Production Co:

Pie Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

96 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

User Reviews

a mixed result

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.