Ha-Sodot

But the ending is a tad dated on the choices available or i might be too presumptuous.

Covers a lot of life choices on what's right and wrong and the in between. And how a book written 2000 years and more ago could dictate ones life action and false righteousness.

Film for thought!

"Secrets" is a film about everything. Just when you think you know what the main theme of the film is, it shifts direction subtly. I think you have to know at least one person who is like a character in this film to find it believable, or you possibly might just be interested in unfamiliar cultures. Practically every event in this film could not possibly happen in the US, but the movie is not a fantasy.

What are the secrets that the viewer gradually comes to understand? They are things people don't tell other people. They are things that people don't know about themselves. They are a culture's basic assumptions that normally go unquestioned. They are ancient Jewish mystical practices that are not supposed to be talked about. They are insights into biblical writings that were never uncovered before. They are little twists of language, like how many M's are in a sentence. They are what happens to people when they face death.

And the secrets of what makes this an amazing film? They are the uniformly great performances, the cinematography that lovingly caresses the city of Sfat (or Zefat, as the Israel road signs say), the beautiful and moving music, and the the questions that haunt the viewer emotionally and intellectually afterward.

It may be a honor to be nominated, but there can only be one winner. Unfortunately this great 2007 film had the misfortune to be competing with The Band's Visit, and outstanding film. Fortunately, it is eligible this year for a GLADD award for a feature film in limited release.

The performances by Fanny Ardant as Anouk, Ania Bukstein as Noemi, and Michal Shtamler as Michel (That's Michelle!) were outstanding.

It was a powerful and fascinating look at a very patriarchal society, and a glimpse that even Jews have differences of opinion on their religion (Are they Protestant?).

Funny, compelling, sure to anger you over the treatment of women, warm and tender: it is an excellent film.

I don't have too much to add to the previous comments but I wonder why there have been no comments since last October. This movie must be hiding for the right opportunity(ies) to be seen.

I previewed this movie as part of an upcoming Jewish Film Festival and it was far and away the best drama that I have seen, perhaps in several years.

I thought the Orthodox Jewish milieu was going to be a turn-off but that only added to a great story, directing, acting, setting, and scenery.

The actresses seemed to be familiar types from other, English-language, films but they probably were not. Just a very good experience.

Living in a secular society and not being religious myself this movie was like visiting another planet. It's a world where religion is taken seriously. And when I say religion I don't mean believing in God (or G-d, as in the sub-titles), but rather the understanding of what God said is studied seriously. Again, while I'm not religious, I admired the fact that the girls took it so gravely seriously. I admit I cannot make a judgment on the accuracy of the movie as a depiction of Orthodox Jews, but the world is filled with societies where women are treated as less then men so it wouldn't surprise me if it was true. As a movie, it was funny and dramatic and entertaining and never lost my interest for a moment. I saw this at the Toronto International Film Festival 2007, but I hope this gets some North American release.