Movie No. 60 (2015): GETT: THE TRIAL OF VIVIANE AMSALEM
Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (2014)
Director: Ronit Elkabetz / Shlomi Elkabetz
Cast: Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian, Menashe Noy
In French, Arabic, and Hebrew with English subtitles
Viviane Amsalem wants a way out of an emotionally-torturing marriage. She files a divorce. The problem is her husband, Elisha, doesn't grant her divorce. And according to the law, the husband's decision is more powerful than the jury, which consists of Rabbi Judges. The trial that ensues is more tortuous than the marriage Viviane wants to get out of.
Director: Ronit Elkabetz / Shlomi Elkabetz
Cast: Ronit Elkabetz, Simon Abkarian, Menashe Noy
In French, Arabic, and Hebrew with English subtitles
Viviane Amsalem wants a way out of an emotionally-torturing marriage. She files a divorce. The problem is her husband, Elisha, doesn't grant her divorce. And according to the law, the husband's decision is more powerful than the jury, which consists of Rabbi Judges. The trial that ensues is more tortuous than the marriage Viviane wants to get out of.
All the scenes in the movie take place in a small courtroom. The claustrophobic setting seems like a metaphor for inconvenience that the absurd law puts any woman who wants divorce in. The film is direct attack on the chauvinistic nature of the marriage law. It looks like that the law itself is the one that is being tried in this intensely acted movie. The use of close-ups and calculated gestures are effective.
As a movie, Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem can be more thrilling than any Summer blockbusters from Hollywood. The thrill is sustained until the end. This is another testament that mindless blasting, time-consuming chase sequences, and ostentatious display of special effects are not necessary to make a movie that can be entertaining and at the same time does not make the audience feel shortchanged.
Rating: 4.0/4.0
Date seen: November 16, 2015
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