by Susan Kandell, guest reviewer

Listen, Do you Want to Know a Secret?

[Ed. note: the following review appears in its entirety on PopSyndicate, and is posted here with permission.]

Secrets abound in the justifiably named film The Secrets, since it seems that just about everyone has at least one. The coming of age story of the studious and pious Noemi (the lovely Ania Bukstein) is seamlessly integrated with a tale of forgiveness within the context of the ultra orthodox Jewish community. It's also a love story with an unconventional twist that might have you exclaim “Oy gevalt!”* Now if you only knew what that meant! I can help you here - check the glossary for this word and others that are marked with a “*” located at the end of the review.

As the female child of a highly esteemed Talmudic* scholar, Noemi is bitterly cognizant of her future role in life. Just like her mother, she would be expected to be the perfect wife; bear many children and relegated to spend hours at the kitchen sink instead of with communing with her beloved Talmud*. But unlike her mother, who quietly resented this preordained role, she aspires to become what is an anomaly in the orthodox community – a feminist. She would rather be an ordained rabbi than be married to one. An impossible task for a woman in this patriarchal society.

Instead of marrying the Yeshiva’s* star pupil, she cajoles her father into postponing her wedding plans for a year. She intends to devote herself to studying scripture in the Knowledge and Truth Midrasha* located in Safed*, the mystical home of Kabbalah*. It’s here that she meets her roommate Michel (Michal Shtamler looking like a young Justine Bateman), an arrogant troublemaker who is attending the seminary against her wishes. The pious scholar and the chain-smoking diva from France instantly dislike one another. It will take something greater then the both of them to break down barriers.

As part of the curriculum, the girls are encouraged to perform mitzvoth*, especially for the needy in the surrounding community. This act of kindness and charity brings Michel and Noemi together, as they are assigned to bring groceries to Anouk (the luminous Fanny Ardant), a mysterious French woman living across the street from the seminary. Besides having a heart condition, she has been recently diagnosed with cancer. Apparently, “when G-d is angry, he’s really angry!” It’s here that the first secret is revealed – and it’s a doozy!

photo by Eyal Landesman; courtesy Monterey Media

Noemi & Michel doing their homework (Ania Bukstein and Michal Shtamler)

The girls are both repulsed and fascinated by Anouk, who has spent considerable time in jail for the murder of her young artist lover. Not one to pass up an opportunity for tikun*, Michel urges Noemi to devise a series of rituals which will purify Anouk in the eyes of G-d. Looking like a female Harry Potter (glasses and all), Noemi wields her prayer book and davens* like crazy in a misguided effort to cleanse Anouk of her sordid sins. The time spent arranging and implementing the various tasks invariably bring the girls closer together; closer – as in the biblical sense. Aha! Now we understand the inclusion of the letter “s” at the end of the word “secrets”.

Although the delicate subject matter of The Secrets is provocative, it’s handled with great sensitivity and flashes of genuine humor by director Avi Nesher. He bravely resists the urge to wrap things up with a neat Hollywood ending. But ultimately it’s up to the audience to decide if Noemi is a heretic or just following Shakespeare’s adage, “To thine own self be true.”

GLOSSARY OF TERMS:

If Hebrew or Yiddish is not your native tongue, I’ve included a little cheat-sheet for your reference.

Daven – To daven is to recite Jewish liturgical prayers, often while swaying back and forth.

Kabbalah – Kabbalah is a discipline and school of thought discussing the mystical aspect of Judaism.

Midrasha – A midrasha is a post-high school religious seminary for women.

Mitzvoth – A mitzvah (singular) denotes a good deed performed out of religious duty or any act of human kindness.

Oy gevalt! - What you might say when your daughter tells you she's breaking off her engagement to the most eligible bachelor in town to study at an all-girls school.

Safed – After the expulsion of Jews from Spain in 1492, the center of kabbalistic study moved to the town of Safed (Tzfat) in northern Israel. Safed is also known for its vast artists' colony. Legend has it that Safed was founded by a son of Noah after the Great Flood.

Talmud – The Talmud is the most significant collection of Jewish laws, ethics and traditions; a vast record of rabbinic discussions. It is a central text of mainstream Judaism.

Tikun – Tikun is a Kabalistic cleansing rite and can be best translated as repair or heal.

Yeshiva – The yeshiva is an institution for men unique to classical Judaism for Torah study, the study of Talmud and Rabbinic literature.

Susan Kandell, in addition to being a PegNews user, writes movie reviews for Pop Syndicate