Disobedience, based on the novel by Naomi Alderman - 8.4 out of 10

Disobedience, based on the novel by Naomi Alderman
8.4 out of 10


Subscribers to the local HBO channel have been regaled lately and I don't mean by Game of Thrones, which I missed...tried one episode and did not catch the fever that has plagued so many.

One of the subject that has been looked at from various angles is Ultraorthodox Jewish communities.
Menashe is one event release, reviewed at realini.blogspot.com.

Disobedience benefits from some remarkable performances, first of all Rachel Weisz as Ronit Krushka and Rachel McAdams as Esti Kuperman.
Ina supporting role, but no less formidable we have Alessandro Nivola as Dovid Kuperman.

In the debut of the motion picture, the respected, worshipped we might say, rabbi of the community dies in London.
His daughter, Ronit returns for the funeral and finds that her two best friends,Esti and Dovid are now married.

She is somewhat - or very - upset that they have not told her, but then Esti retorts:

You left...disappeared, or something similar

It would be soon discovered that Esti had written to announce the death off her father, for her spouse wouldn't do that.
Indeed, there is a dark secret, that others seem to know.

Dovid is the 'spiritual, adopted son' of the late rabbi and favorite to take his place.
But when a group of Orthodox community members talk to him, they seem to hint at the possible connection between his wife and the Prodigal Daughter, who has returned from America.
The two women are attracted to each other.

This may be love.
A tense situation becomes worse, when someone sees them together and the report this to the school where Esti is a teacher.

They then have to confront Dovid, who is no liberal, but a conservative scholar, follower of the Torah.
Yet, he may still see the need to let his wife free.

Disobedience he is a compelling, beautifully acted, thought provoking film.