Eyes Wide Open in Brockley

This is slightly late in the day, but the Brockley Jack Film Club is screening Eyes Wide Open on Monday night. Details are here.

Aaron a married orthodox Jew in his thirties gives an enigmatic young man (Ezri) a job in his Jerusalem butcher’s shop.   Working alongside Ezri unlocks long repressed desires and the two men embark on a sexual relationship.  Slowly the community begins to suspect what is happening, and so begins Aaron’s conflict between his faith, community and desire.  With a restrained pace and muted colours Tabakman’s film captures the  oppressive atmosphere of a closed society and the cost of breaking a great taboo.
“‘A gripping tale of a man fighting with himself, his community and religion’
Time Out
“Tabakman manages to break taboos without resorting to a heavy-handed attack on religion. His film is sparse, sombre and curiously compelling.” ****
Sunday Times
Watch the trailer
Haim Tabakman / Israel 2009 / 90 min / Hebrew & Yiddish with subtitles / Cert: 12

Queer haredim on screen in SE4! I am told this is one of the real gems of the current Israeli cinema, under-going something of a renaissance with films like Samuel Maoz's Lebanon, Eran Riklis' The Lemon Tree, Ari Folman's awesome Waltz With Bashir, Tatia Rosenthal's $9.99, Joseph Cedar's Beaufort, Eran Kolirin's The Band's Visit and Scandar Copti and Yaron Shani's Ajami.

Comments

Most of the films you mentioned have been around for quite a few years, Bob.

You forgot to mention two other very fine films dealing with homosexuality: "The Bubble" (Life in Tel Aviv) and "Sodot" (Secrets).

http://www.pegasusnews.com/news/2009/mar/13/movie-review-the-secrets-ha-sodot/

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0476643/
Halvin Vippi said…
This is something I've always wanted to see!
bob said…
Thanks CC. I'd not heard of either of those films, which both look very interesting.

The films I mentioned in my post have all only come to the UK since 2008 or so, although they might have been slow arriving here. Israeli cinema has really leapt in its reputation here in that period - ironic, of course, as it more or less coincides with the period of pressure for cultural boycott from the Mike Leighs and Ken Loaches...
Israeli cinema has leaped in quality in the last 15 years or so on a scale that is hard to describe, especially considering they work on a shoelace budget. I suppose even the anti-Israeli Brits find it hard to ignore that quality and honesty..
Off topic, but this may tickle your interest:

http://www.jewishideasdaily.com/content/module/2010/10/25/main-feature/1/was-lenin-jewish
bob said…
Was Lenin Jewish? Thanks CC, that's a fascinating article!
Waterloo Sunset said…
Best spammer name EVAR.
Pikavips said…
I missed it! :(

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