DISOBEDIENCE

UK/Ireland, 2017, 114 minutes, Colour.
Rachel Weisz, Rachel Mc Adams, Alessandro Nivola, Alan Corduner, Bernice Stegers.
Directed by Sebastian Lellio.

Not quite a title that would entice legions of fans into a cinema. But, for those who are interested in the title, this is quite a strong drama with impressive portraits of the central characters. It has been directed by the Chilean director, Sebastian Lellio, who has made an international impression with Chilean stories, Gloria (which he has remade in the US with Julianne Moore) and The Fantastic Woman as well as a significant American story, Jackie, dealing with the First Lady and the assassination of President Kennedy.

The theme is presented powerfully in the opening sequence, a London synagogue, strongly, sometimes fiercely, Orthodox, the men with tassels, vests, hats and Scriptures, the women separated. The old rabbi gives an interpretation of creation, highlighting that angels are pure spirits whose wills are directed to God, contrasting with the beasts who are part of creation but have no will. In the middle are humans, with free will, with the possibility of choice – and with the possibility of sinning, incurring judgement, being disobedient. He then collapses and dies. However, at the end of the film, the rabbi designated as his successor recalls this explanation of choice at the old rabbi’s funeral. By then, the significance of the title and the theme of will and choice has been interestingly explored.

We are introduced to Ronit (a strong performance by Rachel Weisz), a photographer in New York City receiving a mysterious phone call to return home to London. She is the late rabbi’s daughter. It emerges that she has been ostracised by the local community – and it soon emerges why. She goes to the home of the rabbis adopted son, Dovid, Alessandro Nivola, friendly but strict in his interpretation of Orthodox customs, even to women not touching men. Ronit is surprised that he has married – and even more surprised when she meets Esti, Rachel Mc Adams, who was significant in Ronit’s past and is now married to Dovid.

Ronit is very much an independent woman, defying the local critics of her and her behaviour, wanting to sell the rabbi’s house only to find that he bequeathed it to the community. The important part of the drama is Ronit’s relationship with Esti, passionate in the past, the reason for Ronit’s exile, and the dilemma for the relationship now that she has returned to England. While there is pressure on Ronit, there is even more pressure on Esti and her marriage. She is part of the community, happily teaching at a school, but disturbed by Ronit’s presence.

While much of the drama is about relationships, especially about same-sex relationships and the attitudes of the community, the drama is also about independence and – with the reprisals of the rabbi’s initial sermon and the focus on choice, the issue for the resolution of the drama is whether Esti will have a choice.

This is a film of emotion, sometimes passion, sometimes sadness and disappointment – and the dilemmas of obedience, disobedience, constraint, freedom and choice.

1. The title? Expectations? With reference to Ronit, Esti?

2. The opening in New York, photography, the studio, atmosphere, Ronit and sexual relationships?

3. The transition to London, the authentic feel, the streets, the homes, the synagogue, school, parks? Golders Green?

4. The musical score, dramatic overtones, religious overtones?

5. The introduction to the rabbi, his sermon, his comments about the Angels as pure spirits with no choice in responding to God, the contrast with the beasts and their instincts though God created them? Human beings in the middle and the importance of freedom of choice? This theme pervading the film? His collapse and death? David quoting it at the end at his funeral? Freedom for all the central characters?

6. A film focusing on women, their experiences, relationships? The place in Orthodox Jewish society? Issues of relationships, single women, the importance of marriage and children? Lesbian relationships and reactions? Ronit and her relationship with her father, loving him, the rabbi, but his strictness? Her relationship with Esti? Leaving London, leaving Esti? Living her own life, not wanting children, her relationships?

7. Esti, her past, in the Jewish society in London, her relationship with Ronit, Ronit and leaving and her being upset? Ronit and breaking contact with the community? The news of her father’s illness? Discovering that Esti had sent the message? Not know her father was ill?

8. Her return, Dovid welcoming her, the prohibition of women touching men? The strictness? The household? The Jewish religious symbols? The family photos and memories? Ronit not realising that Esti had married Dovid? Her coming to the kitchen, helping with the guests? The invitation for Ronit to stay in the house?

9. Ronit, the experience of coming home, the community, suspicions, the meals, questioning her about marriage and children? Her own independence?

10. Esti, in the supermarket, friendship with the others in the community? Mention of Ronit outside? Her following her? Going into the vacant area, renewing the relationship, the kiss? Their being observed? Esti at school, the class on Othello, the response of the students? Being summoned to the headmistress? Her being denounced? Her reaction?

11. The explanation to Ronit, the going out together, in the tube, the streets, going to a hotel, the passion and the sexual encounter, the consequences?

12. The members of the community, the other rabbis, the rabbi and his wig making company, Ronit and her concern about the house, wanting to sell it? The discussion, the discovery that her father had left the house to the Jewish community?

13. Dovid, asking Esti for the truth? His knowledge of the past relationship? His loving Esti, the sequences together, the sexual relationship on Fridays? The bedroom, the shower? His disappointment?

14. The meal, Ronit deciding to go to the airport, packing, the taxi, Esti’s reaction? At the airport, the phone call, her returning, Esti vanishing, Dovid and Ronit Gromit searching for her? Her appearing again, apology?

15. Esti asking for her freedom? Her being pregnant?

16. The funeral, the celebration, the rabbi asking Dovid to become the rabbi’s successor? His anxious behaviour, being caught out, the beginning of his speech, recalling the rabbi’s last speech, repeating it, freedom of choice? Ronit and Dovid acknowledging her? Ronit and Esti present at the ceremony? Dovid and his loud declaration for freedom, Esti’s freedom?

17. Ronit returning to New York, Esti deciding to stay, separate room from Dovid? Esti pursuing the taxi, the final kiss, letting Ronit go? The future for each of the characters?