Mar 02, 2017 the women s balcony, an israeli box office hit about a jerusalem clash of religious cultures, is an unapologetically warmhearted comedic drama. I greatly enjoyed this film despite some glaring holes in the plot. Aside from this subtle issue, the film was really good. When the womens balcony in an orthodox synagogue collapses, leaving the rabbis wife in a coma and. Mar 06, 2017 instead, the film gives all the characters their due even rabbi david, who never devolves into a cardboard villain with the result that the womens balcony, thanks also in part to its. Lost and found in translation what the critical reception of the hit film says about israeli and american societies.
Its a kindhearted comedydrama about a small, orthodox sephardic community that fractures along gender lines when the womens balcony in its local synagogue collapses. Movie detail page washington, dc the womens balcony. The womens balcony tells the charming story of a jewish congregation that is thrown into chaos after a freak accident incapacitates its rabbi. The womens balcony is a feelgood, crowdpleasing comedy that depicts what happens when extremism and traditional values collide. While the womens balcony is considered israels number one movie recently, i preferred the more focused ultraorthodoxcentered israeli film. The womens balcony 2016 directed by emil benshimon. May 26, 2017 like the wedding plan, the womens balcony explicitly focuses on the role of women in modern orthodox judaism. The womens balcony mesilla valley film society at the. Most striking to me was the quickness by which ettie was forgiven by her friends. He has even suggested that god allowed the old balcony to fall because of the sins of the congregation, the implication being that they were not strict enough in their following the torah. Structural damage to the womens seating section results in a. Whereas burshteins film followed a single middleaged woman experiencing a. The east bay international jewish film festival has chosen the womens balcony to open its annual showcase of jewish films this year.
But though that world may seem monolithic to outsiders, as nehama and director emil benshimon well understand, there is a genuine rift there, a clash of cultures often unspoken and unacknowledged that the film has adroitly mined. A bar mitzvah mishap causes a major rift in a devout orthodox community in jerusalem. Once the dust settles, the attendees discover to their horror that the collapse has left the wife of the rabbi in a coma, and her inconsolable husband abraham celektar in a state. The womens balcony begins with a bar mitzvah and ends with a wedding. The film is about a sephardic jewish community dealing with the womens balcony collapsing at synagogue.
An accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in a devout orthodox community in jerusalem, in this rousing, goodhearted tale about women. The rabbi s wife suffers head trauma and becomes comatose. An accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a rift between the men and women in a devout community in jerusalem in this rousing, goodhearted comedy. As the film opens, a day of celebration takes a neartragic turn when the womens balcony of an aging synagogue collapses in the middle of a bar mitzvah. Emil benshimon was born in tel aviv and has directed work for television. Released 2016, the womens balcony stars aviv alush, yafit asulin, orna banai, evelin hagoel the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 36 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. Set in an orthodox jewish community in jerusalem, the womens balcony centers on the literal breakdown of a synagogue. View from the womens balcony israeli screenwriter shlomit nehama talks about her feelgood dramatic comedy set in a traditional orthodox community in jerusalem. The womens balcony cleveland international film festival. This tests the women s friendships and creates an almost lysistratatype rift between the communitys women and men. The women participate from the synagogues balcony, and the unthinkable happens.
Jun 15, 2017 set in an orthodox jewish community in jerusalem, the womens balcony centers on the literal breakdown of a synagogue. May 25, 2017 the story begins when the womens balcony at the synagogue collapses during the bar mitzvah celebration for etties grandson. Jun 15, 2017 a major boxoffice success in israel, the women s balcony is so seemingly sitespecific that even its driving force, screenwriter shlomit nehama, was surprised when it began succeeding overseas. The women s balcony 2016 when a charismatic rabbi enters their lives, some women in jerusalem attempt to unite their neighborhood and preserve their traditions. The womens balcony a closeknit congregation fractures along gender lines after a catastrophe at their synagogue in this nicely observed dramedy. This tests the women s friendships and creates an almost lysistratatype rift between the community s women and men. A bar mitzvah is in full swing at an orthodox temple in jerusalem when the balcony designated for women worshipers suddenly gives way. Winner, best screenplay award uk international jewish film festival 2017. The womens balcony is an eccentric portrait of an already devout community suddenly under pressure from a super orthodox rabbi to observe their faith in a more rigid way. Shot entirely in jerusalem, it has an authentic feel and look. The womens vow to raise money for a balcony is opposed by rabbi david. Aug 16, 2016 an accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a gendered rift in a devout orthodox community in jerusalem, in this rousing, goodhearted tale about women speaking truth to patriarchal. The film gives all the characters their duewith the result that the womens balcony, thanks also in part to its jaunty musical score, emerges as a surprisingly feelgood comedy. Alush makes sure that rabbi david is eminently hateable while also using a great amount of charm and public speaking skill to showcase why people looking for religious guidance.
Popular videos the women s balcony the women s balcony topic. An accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in a devout orthodox community in jerusalem, in this rousing, goodhearted tale about women speaking truth to patriarchal power. Jun 15, 2017 the womens balcony, about a rift within an orthodox jewish congregation in jerusalem, is such an agreeable, crowdpleasing film that its light touch could be mistaken for being lightweight. The women s balcony, an israeli box office hit about a jerusalem clash of religious cultures, is an unapologetically warmhearted comedic drama. When the womens balcony of the synagogue collapses in. The fact that the womens balcony is a relatively genteel and good natured story in no way dampens the insidious nature of the extremist villain at the films core. The story begins when the womens balcony at the synagogue collapses during the bar mitzvah celebration for etties grandson. This is a film about community, a larger version of a close knit family where everybody respects and appreciates each other, which is. Trailer 1 the women s balcony synopsis an accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a rift between the men and women in a devout community in jerusalem in this rousing, goodhearted comedy. The film from israel looks at group of women fighting back against an ultraconservative young rabbi. Special thanks to our community partner for this screening, the tucson international jewish film festival.
The womens balcony is a highly entertaining dramatic comedy about community, old traditions and values, and the power of women to keep all of these together in the face of modern extremism. Instead, the film gives all the characters their due even rabbi david, who never devolves into a cardboard villain with the result that the womens balcony. Instead, as a way of communicating with her parents, many years later nehama made the womens balcony, a feature film opening friday in new york after a year of topping israeli box offices. Thoughtful the womens balcony looks at gender roles in.
The womens balcony 2016 full movie by sakura mantaniyan. A film by shlomit nehama and emil benshimon now playing in u. Released 2016, the women s balcony stars aviv alush, yafit asulin, orna banai, evelin hagoel the movie has a runtime of about 1 hr 36 min, and received a score of out of 100 on metacritic. The womens balcony is a joyous, riotous and thought provoking portrayal of a community striving for equality, which has deservedly become a global hit.
Movie detail page the tower theatre the womens balcony. The womens balcony san francisco jewish film festival. The film is about a sephardic jewish community dealing with the women s balcony collapsing at synagogue. Already a hit on the festival circuit, the women s balcony is a rousing, goodhearted tale about women speaking truth to patriarchal power. An orthodox congregation in jerusalem is celebrating a bar mitzvah when a section of the synagogues balcony, where the women sit, collapses. And how often can you get both those things in one. The womens balcony ismach hatani 2017 rotten tomatoes. Filmography the women s balcony 2016 producers osnat handelsmankeren, talia kleinhendler. Thursday, march 2 at century 16 in pleasant hill a number of other local screenings are right around the corner, as well. The women s balcony isnt a great film, but it is an appealing and goodnatured farce that the toronto fest deemed rebellious and respectful. Like the wedding plan, the womens balcony explicitly focuses on the role of women in modern orthodox judaism. Since its an israeli movie set in an orthodox jewish synagogue, outsiders might have some trouble understanding all of the cultural and religious references. While the mood is that of a gentle and affectionate comedy, the film makes some extremely sharp points about fanaticism, sexism masked as holiness, and tolerance among the. The womens balcony is nothing fancy and even comes across as a bit dreary compared to typical american movies.
As the title indicates, the women s balcony is set in an orthodox jewish community in jerusalem. When the womens balcony in an orthodox synagogue collapses, leaving the rabbis wife in a coma and the rabbi in shock, the congregation falls into crisis. Charismatic young rabbi david appears to be a savior after the accident, but slowly starts pushing his fundamentalist ways and tries to take control. The film deals with the strength of the jewish women not to be put in their place or bullied by an over zealous rabbi and the power of friendship, marriage, and love. May 26, 2017 instead, as a way of communicating with her parents, many years later nehama made the womens balcony, a feature film opening friday in new york after a year of topping israeli box offices. The women s balcony resolves its central conflict a bit too quickly and neatly, but the theme of battle for the soul of a community resonates at least with many american critics, who have. A huge box office hit in israel, the film was written by shlomit nehama, and directed by emil benshimon. A major boxoffice success in israel, the women s balcony is so seemingly sitespecific that even its driving force, screenwriter shlomit nehama, was surprised when it began succeeding overseas.