Disobedience, seven years after its premiere

In the beginning, the Lord created three kinds of creatures: The Angels, The Beast and human beings...

The first scene of this film, in which you will see a rabbi delivering a speech beginning with the above words, speaks of freedom. Near the end of the film, another speech at that podium confirms it.

I am not here to tell you any more, it is not pleasant, nor prudent. I just want to share with you some of my thoughts about a film that I revisited just a few hours ago and that I consider a masterpiece.

Romance. Drama | A woman who grew up in an orthodox Jewish family returns home on the occasion of the death of her father, a rabbi. Controversy soon ensues when she begins to show interest in an old childhood friend. (FILMAFFINITY)

I remember that the first time I watched Disobedience, I was prompted to do so by the participation of one of my favourite actresses, Rachel Weisz, winner of several awards for her performance in The Constant Gardener (2005), including an Oscar and a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actress. This time, what a coincidence, Galenkp recommended me to see The Light Between The Oceans (2016) and she was part of the cast, which brought me joy, and at the same time brought me back to Disobedience. Why? maybe because it's one of those films that reminds you of who you are and why you are the way you are. And maybe also because I was left wanting to see Weisz acting. She is one of those women of the seventh art who needs no words, one of those actresses with a deep gaze, one of those contained beings who make you lose control.

And here I open a parenthesis to talk about a sensation that this film can provoke when you start watching it: slowness, weariness, restraint.

I can assure you that quite a few people gave up before the film - shall we say - took off, before so much silence and mystery began to unravel about something that happened in the past and which is the main thread of the plot. In this group, I count those who, of course, landed on it without any contact with a critic or review or perhaps the simple recommendation of someone else, motivated by the sex scene. It's a very well-conceived and very well-done sex scene, I'm not going to lie to you.

But beyond this forceful proclamation through sex, there is a reality that many of us could be living now, and that is the feeling that we don't belong to a particular site, despite all the efforts we make to accept what we have to live with.

That's how strong it is. That is how heartbreaking this film will be for those who dare to watch it.

This is the reality of the character played by the Canadian Rachel McAdams, who you will see at first distance, accepting the bars of her cage, but not with enough determination to do so, and that is why there will come a scene of liberation so powerful, from which you will notice a radical change that as a viewer - I know - you will enjoy very much.

Precisely this is another great performance in Disobedience. You can witness that magical moment when the chains fall off with a simple action and reaction, by evoking memories this girl's psychology moves forward. Far from remaining in the stagnation that is presented from the beginning of the film, she grows and you will see it in her eyes, in the brightness of her eyes, in her gestures, in a projection on stage that says a lot, if you feel identified with this reality or a similar one.

Other successes that I consider plausible are the music, by Mathew Herbert, and the photography by Danny Cohen. The soundtrack is important in a film and this one intermingles very well with each moment and even speaks where the script, with great skill, lets silence run. The close-up photography, however, gives a lot of strength to the plot, as it exploits the inner dialogue of contrasts and repressed desires that Disobedience seeks at all costs to turn into a cry for liberation.

The film touches on the edges of love in all its manifestations, which I also consider to be very positive and speaks to us with great depth about the renunciations precisely because of love.

Screenshots of three scenes from the movie

Overall, the performances of both the main and supporting characters are good and balanced, something that gratifies and adds a lot to this co-production between the United Kingdom, the United States and Ireland.

Interestingly its director is a Chilean, Sebastián Lelio. Reviewing his filmography I found that I might also like to watch for the themes addressed by A Fantastic Woman (2017), The Wonder (2022) and Voyagers (2024). I'll let you know.

I'm not a film expert. I also don't have a lot of time to spare and when I go to see a film I make sure it's not a waste for me. So this is my modest opinion about Disobedience and I hope that in my words you can recognise some of its values and I encourage you to spend 114 minutes of your life enjoying it and reflecting.

I would love to read you in the comments. I welcome your feedback about this film if you have already had the opportunity to watch it or if you want to tell me about this actress that I like so much or if you know the work of this film director.

I'll see you! I thank you infinitely for making it this far.