Disobedience

Ronit, a photographer living in New York, returns to the North London Orthodox Jewish community she grew up in after her father dies. There she finds her childhood friend Esti, now married to a man they both knew. It comes from Naomi Alderman's 2006 novel. The question at the centre is not faith versus desire but whether it is possible to stay inside the community and live. Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams star, with Weisz also producing. Sebastián Lelio made it immediately after A Fantastic Woman and brought the same emotional precision. Alessandro Nivola has the hardest part as the husband and won Best Supporting Actor at the British Independent Film Awards. Rotten Tomatoes sits at 84 percent. Despite a 6 million dollar budget it took only 8 million worldwide, which is the box office reality for independent drama however good the reviews. Who it is for: viewers who want religion, community and desire handled without caricature. Who it is not for: anyone wanting a clean ending. Freedom here is presented as a cost rather than an escape, and nobody is rescued easily.