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Yaël Abecassis, Yoram Hattab, Meital Barda, Uri Ran Klauzner, Yussuf Abu-Warda ... see more see more... , Sami Hori , Lea Koenig , Rivka Michaeli , Leah Koenig , Sami Huri

A dark drama of women living in a society where they are second-class citizens, Kadosh/Sacred begins with Meir, an Orthodox Jew living in the Mea Shearim district of Jerusalem, greeting the day with h... read more read more...is morning prayers, which includes the phrase, "Thank you, oh Lord, for not having made me a woman." Meir begins to understand just how poorly regarded women can be in the Orthodox faith when his rabbi suggests he should leave his wife. Meir and Rivka (Yael Abecassis) have been married for ten years and have a solid relationship based on affection and mutual respect. However, they have been unable to have children, and as Meir is reminded, the Talmud says a woman without children may as well be dead. Consequently, the rabbi advises Meir to divorce Rivka and take up with a younger woman who can give him a family. Meanwhile, Rivka's younger sister, Malka (Meital Barda), is soon to wed Yossef (Uri Ran Klauzner) in a match arranged by their parents, even though Malka loves another man, Yaakov (Sami Hori), who has dared to question the teachings of the Orthodox faith. Yossef soon proves to be blind to Malka's emotional and physical needs, and she begins to wonder how long she can continue to live within this circle, even though it is the only world she knows. Destined to be controversial in its native Israel, Kadosh/Sacred was shown in competition at the 1999 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Flixster Users

66% liked it

924 ratings

Critics

89% liked it

18 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 56 min.

Directed by: Amos Gitai

Release Date: February 16, 2000

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DVD Release Date: November 28, 2000

Stats: 78 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (78)

  • itsjustme2004
    December 15, 2010
    itsjustme2004
    An ultimately sad film, highlighting the subjugation of women within a certain Hassidic enclave in Jerusalem. The film itself is very slow, dark, and quiet. There are scenes of immense tenderness, particularly those between a childless husband and wife, deeply in love, but forced... read more by their community to separate so that the husband can re-marry in an attempt to produce children. But, there are also scenes of fierce brutality and blatant ignorance dictated by an incomplete understanding of the purpose, and intent, of God's Laws. This is not easy to watch, and the sense of sadness that pervades never relents, but it is still fascinating.
  • fb1144932598
    May 12, 2010
    fb1144932598
    An ultimately sad film, highlighting the subjugation of women within a certain Hassidic enclave in Jerusalem. While maybe less than authentic, (how many Hassidic actors are there, and how many of them would agree to portray the intimate scenes depicted here?) the message that wom... read moreen are second-class citizens with no voice within their community is valid and bears investigation. The film itself is very slow, dark, and quiet. There are scenes of immense tenderness, particularly those between Meir (Yoram Hattab) and Rivka (Yael Abecassis), a husband and wife, deeply in love, but forced by their community to separate so that Meir can re-marry in an attempt to produce children. But, there are also scenes of fierce brutality and blatant ignorance dictated by an incomplete understanding of the purpose and intent of God's Laws. This is not easy to watch, and the sense of sadness that pervades never relents, but it is still fascinating.
  • ileo
    February 13, 2011
    ileo
    Set in Jerusalem, Meir and Rivka are married and in love. They have been trying to have a child for years, but are unable to conceive. Meir receives constant pressure from his father to leave his wife, and marry a young woman whose purportedly 'fertile'. Meanwhile, Rivka's sis... read moreter is in love with an outcast but is set to marry another. Malka hopes that her beloved Yaakov will be accepted before her arranged marriage, but is slowly realizing that it will not happen. As Rivka and Malka sadly brace themselves for the brunt of their troubles, their directions in life takes a sudden change for the worst.
    Yaël Abecassis, Yoram Hattab, Meital Barda, Uri Ran Klauzner, Yussuf Abu-Warda, and Sami Hori stars. Worthy!

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Critic Reviews

Joshua Tanzer
April 29, 2003
Joshua Tanzer, Offoffoff

An unforgettably emotional film, as the love between the lead characters becomes shot through with tension, guilt and jealousy. Full Review

Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
March 13, 2002
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice

An incredibly sensitive Israeli film about the harsh effects of religious zealotry. Full Review

Dennis Schwartz
January 1, 2000
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews

The emphasis of the film is on how the ultra-Orthodox Jews of that sect live by the letter of the Torah in everything they do. Full Review

David Sterritt
January 1, 2000
David Sterritt, Christian Science Monitor

Gitai handles his potentially melodramatic material with unfailing taste and compassion, encouraging his audience to think long and hard about the moral dilemmas his film intelligently explores. Full Review

Emily Bobrow
January 1, 2000
Emily Bobrow, Film Journal International

A poignantly disturbing look at the social contradictions inherent in a lifestyle bound by religious duty. Full Review

Lisa Nesselson
September 25, 2008
Lisa Nesselson, Variety

Click to read the article Full Review

Stephen Holden
May 20, 2003
Stephen Holden, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

Kevin Thomas
August 15, 2002
Kevin Thomas, Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

May 11, 2001
Hollywood Reporter

No review available.

Bob Graham
January 1, 2000
Bob Graham, San Francisco Chronicle

Click to read the article Full Review

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