The Women's Balcony

Kicking things off with a bar mitzvah that results in disaster, “The Women’s Balcony” takes us inside a religious community that is being driven toward progress by a group of determined women, despite the active opposition of the men in charge. With its rare combination of light comedy and keen observation, this crowdpleaser offers an enlightening look at modern-day Jewish culture in Jerusalem and the gender divisions that permeate the temple. It’s tricky to make a great film concerning faith that doesn’t alienate people of other belief systems and cultures, but first-time director Emil Ben-Shimon is able to accomplish this, in part due to debut screenwriter Shlomit Nehama’s brilliant, tightly-plotted script. It’s a familiar tale loaded with the kind of pitch-perfect performances, lovable and relatable characters, and elegant direction that make for a very enjoyable time at the movies.

PRE-SHOW MUSIC BY
Watching For Foxes (Thu)
Alex Mendenall (Fri)

SPONSORED BY
Barry & Julie Karp (Thu)
The Wettlaufer Family (Fri)