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Generally favorable reviews - based on 7 Critics What's this?

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  • Summary: Aaron, a respectable butcher in Jerusalem’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community, is married to Rivka and is a dedicated father of four children. One day, he meets Ezri, a handsome twenty-two year old student, and soon falls in love with him. He then starts to neglect his family and community lifife, swept away by his love and lust for Ezri. Meanwhile, paralleling this relationship, a neighbouring shopkeeper persists in seeing a man of her own choosing, even though she's been promised by her father to another. Eventually, guilt, torment and pressure from the community will catch up with the doomed lovers, leading them to make radical decisions. (Peccadillo Pictures) Expand
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 7
  2. Negative: 0 out of 7
  1. 90
    Its scrupulous, humane sympathy gives this small, sorrowful film a glow of insight and a pulse of genuine, openhearted curiosity.
  2. Reviewed by: Alissa Simon
    70
    Quietly devastating picture reps a natural draw for gay, Jewish-interest and upscale audiences.
  3. Reviewed by: Vadim Rizov
    70
    Mostly, though, it wins with excellent performances: Strauss never overplays his character's internal tension, nor does Danker camp up his youthful virility.
  4. The observational detail is impressive and the two men's growing affection is well-drawn but Takerman's depiction of the conventions and strictures of religion and the impulses of two closeted gay men are too understated to achieve universality.

See all 7 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
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  2. Mixed: 0 out of
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