Fill The Void

Director: Rama Burshtein
Part of the Cinecity festival celebrating international cinema, ‘Fill The Void’ was a delicate film, a bit like Ang Lee’s ‘Eat, Drink, Man, Woman’ but with more melancholy and male chanting. The story is simple, revolving around a small community of Hasidic Jews trying to arrange a marriage after a sad death in the family. Shira (an 18 year old woman superbly played by Hadas Yaron) has to grow up fast and decide whether a marriage is suitable for her, bearing in mind both her family’s interests and her own. The characters are well drawn and believable, and there were a few hilarious comedic moments to lighten the mood such as Shira expressing her mourning through her sad accordion playing to bemused dancing children. The Sopranos-type ending was a little unsettling after investing so much emotion in Shira’s predicament, but this quietly moving gem is well worth seeking out for any fans of poignant drama.

Duke’s At Komedia, 21 November 2013

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