{jatabs type="content" position="top" height="auto" skipAnim="true" mouseType="click" animType="animFade"}

[tab title="Movie Review"]

Disobedience - DVD

When successful New York photographer Ronit (Rachel Weisz) finds out that her rabbi father died, she flies home to London and stays with her married friends, Dovid (Alessandro Nivola) and Esti (Rachel McAdams). The rest of the Orthodox Jewish community is less welcoming, as we learn that Ronit had been shunned years ago for her scandalous attraction to Esti. Despite Esti’s marriage, their mutual attraction reignites upon Ronit’s return. A member of the community catches the two together, and word reaches Dovid. He’s especially concerned about reputation since he too is a rabbi, expected to become the new leader in place of Ronit’s late father. Ronit and Esti sneak away to downtown London, where they get a hotel room and enjoy some privacy. After Dovid confronts Esti, she admits she kissed Ronit and declares, “It’s always been this way! I have always wanted it.” Ronit encourages Esti to leave Dovid. At the service for Ronit’s father, Dovid speaks about freedom before turning down the leadership position. He could’ve been a villainous figure easily but is far from it—in the next scene, he hugs both women outside the synagogue.

"a fair, if somewhat depressing look at one orthodox Jewish community and what happens when love gets in its way"


Only near the end of the movie does Esti face the dilemma: should she leave Dovid and run away with Ronit to New York? It would’ve been better and more dramatic if this decision had come earlier in the story. As it is, Esti’s choice almost feels like an afterthought.

The colors of the film are muted blues, greens and grays, making the world seem drab and dreary. Esti has a safe, comfortable life with her husband and a teaching job where she feels secure and needed. Is she willing to give it all up for passion and freedom? The viewer can identify with both Esti and Ronit: the former for her desire to stay safe in a world of tradition and the latter for her independent spirit. {googleads}

Based on Naomi Alderman’s book, this is the first English film of Chilean-Argentine director Sebastian Lelio. One of his previous films, A Fantastic Woman, also dealt with LGBT themes: it tells the story of a transgender Chilean woman named Marina (Daniela Vega), a nightclub singer whose boyfriend has died.

Disobedience - DVD

On the subject of religion, Disobedience shows both the bright and dark sides. There are genuinely good people in the community, kindhearted souls like Esti and Ronit’s aunt. Then there are the judgmental, whispering types who turn their backs on a deeply grieving woman. Disobedience is a fair, if somewhat depressing look at one orthodox Jewish community and what happens when love gets in its way.

3 stars

[/tab]

[tab title="Details"]

Disobedience - DVD

MPAA Rating: R for some strong sexuality.
Runtime:
114 mins
Director
: Sebastián Lelio
Writer:
Sebastián Lelio, Rebecca Lenkiewicz
Cast:
Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola
Genre
: Romance | Drama
Tagline:
Love is an act of defiance.
Memorable Movie Quote: "Hashem gave us choice, which is both a privilege and a burden. We must then choose the tangled life we live"
Theatrical Distributor:
Bleecker Street Media
Official Site: bleeckerstreetmedia.com/disobedience
Release Date:
April 27, 2018
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
July 17, 2018
Synopsis: From Sebastián Lelio, the director of the Academy Award-winning A Fantastic Woman, Disobediencefollows a woman as she returns to the community that shunned her decades earlier for an attraction to a childhood friend. Once back, their passions reignite as they explore the boundaries of faith and sexuality. Written by Lelio and Rebecca Lenkiewicz and based on Naomi Alderman’s book, the film stars Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams and Alessandro Nivola.

{googleads}

[/tab]

[tab title="DVD Review"]

Disobedience - DVD

DVD

DVD Details:

Home Video Distributor: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment
Available on Blu-ray
- July 17, 2018
Screen Formats: 2.40:1; Color, NTSC, Subtitled, Widescreen
Subtitles
: Spanish
Audio:
English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Stereo), English (Dolby Digital 5.1)
Discs: Blu-ray Disc; single disc
Region Encoding: Locked to Region A

Supplements:

Commentary:

• None

Special Features:

• None

[/tab]

[tab title="Trailer"]

[/tab]

[tab title="Art"]

Disobedience - DVD

[/tab]

{/jatabs}