Kadosh

Directed by Amos Gitai

Release Year: 1999
Running time: 117
Country: Middle East, Israel
Language: Hebrew with English Subtitles
$17.97 - Classroom Rights
MSRP: $29.95
$349.00 - With PPR
$499.00 - With DSL
$499.00 - With DSL and PPR
MSRP: $599.00
Screening Request
Directed by: Amos Gitai
Crew: Renato Berta

Set in the Mea Sherim quarter of Jerusalem, an enclave of the ultra-Orthodox, Kadosh explores a hermetic world almost never seen on the screen. Here, for ten years, the pious Rivka (Yael Abecassis) has devoted herself to her husband Meir (Yoram Hattab), but their marriage remains childless. Presumed barren, she is rejected by her community, which prizes children above all else. The story that follows relates the harrowing fate of Rivka, and also here beloved sister Malka (Meital Barda), in love with a young man who has fled the community to lead a secular life.

A huge box office hit in Europe, acclaimed at film festivals in Cannes, Toronto, New Delhi and Tokyo, Kadosh is both a powerful drama and an impassioned feminist polemic. As religious fundamentalism achieves new political significance in many countries around the world, the questions at the heart of Gitai's compelling drama resonate far beyond the borders of Israel.

Reviews

"The best Israeli film ever! Luminous...A fine film." - Richard Corliss, Time

 

Awards

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Cannes Film Festival

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Toronto Film Festival

OFFICIAL SELECTION: Telluride Film Festival