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| Movie Review: My Father My Lord Alternate Title: You Must Not Cry on the Sabbath
Story: In my secular world,
rules are made to be broken. In the world of the Haredim (Ultra Orthodox
Jews) the rules of the Torah are meant to be followed without question.
Writer and director David Volach, who came from that
ultra Orthodox world before he moved to Tel Aviv to study film delivers
a heart breaking story about faith, ritual, zealotry, family and loss. This is a tough film to view from the get go. We see in the opening
scene that the Orthodox congregation is mourning a loss of a child.
The rest of the film leads us to through the several days before the
event that caused this grief-filled opening. We watch the Rabbi, his
devoted wife Esther and young son, Menachim live their ordinary lives
saturated with order, study, prayer and ritual. Young Menachim, innocently questions the world around him. His devout
Rabbinical father, has a biblical answer for every question. Whether
those answers satisfy the young boy or us, is beside the point. This
is the way of the faithful - regardless of faith. Be they Christian,
Jewish, Muslim. Who are they - to question the written word. In lesser hands this would have been an awfully hard film to endure.
But David Volach, examines these people for who they are and how they
live their devout lives - without judgment. It is a fascinating study
of family and a very difficult film to watch. We know what is going
to happen and watch with a heavy heart throughout. Acting: Assi Dayan as Rabbi Abraham
Edelman is perfect in his role as the devout, unquestioning Rabbi. Sharon
Hacohen Bar as Esther Edelman is hard to watch. She is faithful,
loyal and subservient - she made me want to scream. Ilan Griff
as young Menachem Edelman is perfect.
Predilection: None
Critters: A German Shepard, doves and a fish. All
of the critters in this film play an important role.
Food: Food is an important part of a Jewish home
regardless of income.
Sex Spectrum: Zero
Visual Art: The film is dark. Not only literally
but really dark. They needed to add some lighting to the scenes. It
would have helped.
Theater Audience: About five other people
Drift Factor: The film took a long time to get going.
I was starting the drift.
Tissue Usage: 0
Oscar Worthy: No
Big Screen or Rental: Rental would be fine.
Length: 75 minutes
LOBO HOWLS: 6 |