This is a slow paced adult Israeli drama, set on the Mount of Olives in the Old City of Jerusalem, and being the oldest active Jewish cemetery in the world. Separated by just a fence outside the cemetery, lives Tzvia, powerfully portrayed by Shani Klein, who's a Jewish Orthodox woman, wife of Reuven (Avshalom Pollak), and mother of 4 children.
Tzvia's marriage to Reuven, a Yeshiva teacher, is under increasing strain and suffering from a clear lack of communication. As her unhappiness mounts, Tziva seeks diversions such as smoking, sitting among the tombstones reading poetry, conversing with a graveside visitor, or even engaging in "forbidden" conversations with Abed (Hitham Omari) an Arab cemetery worker.
One night, she notices a couple having sex in the cemetery and will soon come to realize that prostitutes, pimps, and addicts are using the area for their illicit activities. Tzvia bizarrely becomes more and more drawn to this group, and after initially being chased away settles into a strange co-existence with them, with their tolerance of her quietly sitting and observing if she brings them her home cooked meals.
However, as Tzvia's depression mounts I was very shocked to see a sudden stunning action on her part that made me sit up and ask myself if she really is doing what I think she's doing? Without writing spoilers, let's just say the possible horrific finale is not directly shown but all signs point to its devastating conclusion.
Overall, Israeli filmmaker Yaelle Kayam, makes her writing and directorial feature debut here and I would say it shows lots of promise. I will be most interested in what Kayam brings to the screen in the future.
Tzvia's marriage to Reuven, a Yeshiva teacher, is under increasing strain and suffering from a clear lack of communication. As her unhappiness mounts, Tziva seeks diversions such as smoking, sitting among the tombstones reading poetry, conversing with a graveside visitor, or even engaging in "forbidden" conversations with Abed (Hitham Omari) an Arab cemetery worker.
One night, she notices a couple having sex in the cemetery and will soon come to realize that prostitutes, pimps, and addicts are using the area for their illicit activities. Tzvia bizarrely becomes more and more drawn to this group, and after initially being chased away settles into a strange co-existence with them, with their tolerance of her quietly sitting and observing if she brings them her home cooked meals.
However, as Tzvia's depression mounts I was very shocked to see a sudden stunning action on her part that made me sit up and ask myself if she really is doing what I think she's doing? Without writing spoilers, let's just say the possible horrific finale is not directly shown but all signs point to its devastating conclusion.
Overall, Israeli filmmaker Yaelle Kayam, makes her writing and directorial feature debut here and I would say it shows lots of promise. I will be most interested in what Kayam brings to the screen in the future.