º»¹® ¹Ù·Î°¡±â ¸Þ´º ¹Ù·Î°¡±â

ARCHIVE

10th(2008)



The Secrets

Avi NESHER

  • Israel, France
  • 2007
  • 120min
  • 35mm
  • color
  • µå¶ó¸¶

SYNOPSIS


In this film, there are three women, Naomi, Michelle and Anouk. This film shows how three women, who have gathered at Safed have each been changed though the secret purification ritual, Tikun. The film focuses on the conflict between traditional Jewish mysticism, which has remained largely unchanged over the last 2000 years, and the real lives of contemporary Jewish women. After her mother¡¯s death, Naomi postpones her marriage to a rabbi and goes to the seminary for women in Safed, one of the Kabalistic Holy places, in order to study theology. The rebellious Michelle, whosewealthy parents have sent her there because they want to shore up their daughter¡¯s observance of faith, arrives at the same seminary. Meanwhile, Anouk who has killed her lover in France even though she gave up her family for him, has come to Safed to seek redemption for her sins before her death. Naomi and Michelle, who roommates visit has suffered from a serious disease Anouk who is seriously ill,and finally they go through Tikun together for Anouk. The process opens up new horizons to all three women, offering alternatives to the normal earthly life. The film shows the conflict that arises for women who have an intense desire to live a life other than the one that is dictated by their faith, which dictates that women must marry, raise children and support their husbands, even though they strongly believe in the religion on the level of Kabala. The film asks the question of how women¡¯s wills to live their own lives can negotiate with the tenets of religion. (Kim Sunah)
 

 

PROGRAM NOTE


In this film, there are three women, Naomi, Michelle and Anouk. This film shows how three women, who have gathered at Safed have each been changed though the secret purification ritual, Tikun. The film focuses on the conflict between traditional Jewish mysticism, which has remained largely unchanged over the last 2000 years, and the real lives of contemporary Jewish women. After her mother¡¯s death, Naomi postpones her marriage to a rabbi and goes to the seminary for women in Safed, one of the Kabalistic Holy places, in order to study theology. The rebellious Michelle, whosewealthy parents have sent her there because they want to shore up their daughter¡¯s observance of faith, arrives at the same seminary. Meanwhile, Anouk who has killed her lover in France even though she gave up her family for him, has come to Safed to seek redemption for her sins before her death. Naomi and Michelle, who roommates visit has suffered from a serious disease Anouk who is seriously ill,and finally they go through Tikun together for Anouk. The process opens up new horizons to all three women, offering alternatives to the normal earthly life. The film shows the conflict that arises for women who have an intense desire to live a life other than the one that is dictated by their faith, which dictates that women must marry, raise children and support their husbands, even though they strongly believe in the religion on the level of Kabala. The film asks the question of how women¡¯s wills to live their own lives can negotiate with the tenets of religion. (Kim Sunah)
 

 

Director

  • Avi NESHERAvi NESHER

    One of Israel¡¯s most influential filmmakers, Nesher was born in Israel but spent much of his adolescence in New York. Nesher¡¯s very first movie The Troupe (1982) and Rage and Glory (2001) were lauded by international critics. After that Nesher¡¯s initial work came as a writer, penning studio assignments for such filmmakers as Ron Howard and James Cameron. In 1990, Nesher wrote and directed the sensual supernatural mystery Doppelganger, starring Drew Barrymore. In 2001, Nesher wrote and directed Turn Left at the End of the World a surreal deconstruction of Israel¡¯s immigration mythology. The movie became Israel¡¯s greatest box office success in the last twenty years, as well as becoming one of the best reviewed films of the era. Later in 2004, Nesher directed the highly experimental political documentary Oriental. Nesher also just received an Achievement Award at the 2007 Jerusalem International Film Festival.

Credit

  • Cast Fanny ARDANT, Ania BUKSTEIN, Michal SHTAMLER
  • Screenwriter Hadar GALRON, Avi NESHER
  • Cinematography Michel ABRAMOWICZ
  • Art director Yoram SHAYER
  • Editor Isaac SEHAYEK
  • Music Daniel SALOMON
  • Sound Israel David