The Women's Balcony

Directed by Emil Ben-Shimon
Year: 2016
Country: Israel
Language: Hebrew with English Subtitles

An accident during a bar mitzvah celebration leads to a gender rift in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem, in this rousing, good-hearted tale about women speaking truth to patriarchal power. When the women’s balcony in an Orthodox synagogue collapses, leaving the rabbi’s wife in a coma and the rabbi in shock, the congregation falls into crisis. Charismatic young Rabbi David appears to be a savior after the accident, but slowly starts pushing his fundamentalist ways and tries to take control. This tests the women’s friendships and creates an almost Lysistrata-type rift between the community’s women and men.

Cast
Orna Banai
Itzik Cohen
Einat Sarouf
Igal Naor
Evelin Hagoel
Aviv Alush
Yafit Asulin
Sharona Elimelech

Crew
Directed by Emil Ben-Shimon