Disobedience (2017)

Directed by: Sebastian Lelio | 114 minutes | drama, romance | Actors: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola, Anton Lesser, Allan Corduner, Bernice Stegers, Nicholas Woodeson, David Fleeshman, Steve Furst, Trevor Allan Davies, Sophia Brown, Anthony Dowding, Clara Francis, Lia Cohen, Cara Horgan

‘Disobedience’, based on the book of the same name by Naomi Alderman, is about the rigid walls of Orthodox Judaism and love breaking through them with a sledgehammer. Directed by Sebastián Lelio and produced by Rachel Weisz, the film is an ode to the human will that affirms one’s own freedom through disobedience.

The film opens with a Rabbi preaching about Hashem who created the angels, the animals, and man. Man, he says, is special because he can choose disobedience. This sets the tone for the story. Ronit Krushka (Rachel Weisz), a New York photographer, learns that her father and spiritual leader of an Orthodox Jewish community, Rav “The Rav” Krushka (Anton Lesser), who lives in England, has passed away. She catches a flight to London and goes to the home of Dovid Kuperman, a childhood friend and her father’s spiritual successor. When Dovid opens the front door he is surprised and cool. After a few awkward moments, he asks her to come inside. Here she meets relatives who are equally surprised to see her. Despite the piercing looks and awkward whispers, they offer her condolences on the loss of her father. She retires to the kitchen with Dovid for a cup of coffee, a cigarette, and to catch up. Then Esti (Rachel McAdams) walks into the kitchen and the tension is immediately palpable. The rest is a rollercoaster of emotions, courage, disappointments and hard choices.

Life is a playing field where reason, culture and faith wage a bitter battle with love. The result is (almost always) love that leaves the battlefield like a celebrated general. Love comes where it wants and forces the world to its knees. In this story too, a choice has to be made between love and duty, obedience or disobedience. Ronit and Esti wander around the gray emotionless world of Orthodox Judaism that lacks color, tension and spontaneity. The iron cage of rules is too small for the wings of their natural freedom and they crave the open air where they can breathe freely and be as they please.

Usually a sun of colors on the screen, Rachel McAdams convinces in her role of a gray mouse who is burdened by the cult-like characteristics of Judaism and her conformation to a world that she feels trapped by. Rachel Weisz is also believable as the black sheep, portraying silent rebellion, gnawing sadness and questionable longing. The Rachels are clearly well-matched, dragging the viewer into the drama where the most coveted is also the most sinful. Alessandro Nivola’s character Dovid is the canvas on which the drama takes place and the viewer feels his despair when he screams ‘what do you want!?!?’

‘Disobedience’ is about the strength needed to break free from the group and the courage to find one’s own happiness. Many people find themselves in situations where the society they belong to forbids certain areas of life. Few have the strength to confront and choose their own path, especially when exile is the result. ‘Disobedience’ is a call to arms for everyone who leads a conformist life and is looking for motivation to do what is necessary. If you dare.