Disobedience
Directed by: Sebastián Lelio
Summary: Featuring the biggest Hollywood names of any film in this particular festival – and generating the most mainstream buzz – this film is about a woman, Esti (Rachel McAdams), whose life in an Orthodox Jewish society in London forces her to hide her true sexuality until her childhood friend/former lover Ronit (Rachel Weisz) returns to town and causes her to question the closeted life she’s led. Ronit left the city long ago to escape its rigid rules and live freely as a photographer in New York, but returns for a funeral of a loved one, to much criticism for having left and for who she is. Esti has meanwhile remained rooted in their hometown and built a life with someone she and Ronit were both very close to growing up. Once reunited, the two friends’ connection pushes the boundaries of faith, sending shock waves through the community and permanently altering several lives.
My take: Best. Love. Scene. Ever. First, the lead up to it is so perfectly executed, with sexual tension brimming between the two characters right from the get-go, and an extended teaser scene that shows you just how strong their connection is. The immediate buildup to the love scene uses a similar tactic – to get to that moment, the characters must make a trek during which stolen glances and discreet handholding elicits edge-of-seat anticipation. The act itself oozes passion and intensity. Man, woman, gay, straight – anyone watching this has to admire the fearlessness, vulnerability, depth and commitment of the script and actresses. It’s so unique in its level of authenticity and rawness, and as Rachel Weisz said in one TV interview, it wasn't about gratuitous nudity for shock and awe, as most love scenes tend to be. Instead, it played out like the only reason for the scene was that there could be no other outcome for these characters who were so into each other.
But this movie is more than its pivotal love scene. It also delicately explores the question of sexuality and identity in a very particular, conservative and homogeneous society. It offers different perspectives – someone who denounced the society entirely, someone torn between belief and respect for the culture, and self-identity, someone torn between loyalty to job and beliefs and loyalty to friends and a code of ethics based on emotions rather than religion, and a general population who adhere only to religious values and make no exceptions. It manages to avoid serving as an indictment on either party, but simply demonstrates the challenges such a society creates and how one person struggles to figure out how they fit into it.
My one critique is with the ending. It had a few false endings, which can make a movie seem drawn out and unsure of itself. I can’t say much more on this without spoiling it but suffice to say it’s like watching the Wheel of Fortune wheel slow down on bankrupt, then inch into $1 million, then crawl into the mystery wedge, and all you want is to shout out a letter and solve the puzzle.
Other than the tug-of-war, nearly anti-climactic ending, the film is sensitive, sensual and simply sensational.
Rating: 4.5
Learn more about the film at: https://bleeckerstreetmedia.com/disobedience
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