Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Latest
    • 3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)
    • 3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)
    • 3625. Ode To Joy (2019)
    • 3624. One Chance (2013)
    • 3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)
    • 3622. The Polka King (2017)
    • 3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)
    • 3620. Friendzone (2021)
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Home
    • Blog
      • All Posts
      • Best Of The Year
        • Best Of 2015
        • Best Of 2016
        • Best Of 2017
        • Best Of 2018
        • Best Of 2019
        • Best Of 2020
        • Best Of 2021
        • Best Of 2022
      • The Decade In Review
      • Box Office Analysis
      • James Bond
      • Oscars
      • RANKED
      • Star Wars
      • The Big Questions
      • Top 10
      • World Cinema
    • Ratings
      • Top 250
      • Top 100 Foreign Films
      • Bottom 50
      • 0 – 1.9
      • 2 – 3.9
      • 4 – 5.9
      • 6 – 7.9
      • 8 – 10
    • Genres
      • Action
      • Anthology
      • Animation
      • Christmas
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Documentary
      • Drama
      • Fantasy
      • Film-Noir
      • History
      • Horror
      • Kids’
      • Musical
      • Psychological
      • Romance
      • Sci-Fi
      • Short
      • Silent
      • Sport
      • Superhero
      • Survival
      • Thriller
      • Western
    • Release Year
      • 2020s
      • 2010s
      • 2000s
      • 1990s
      • 1980s
      • 1970s
      • 1960s
      • 1950s
      • 1940s
      • 1930s
      • 1920s
    • Country
      • Afghanistan
      • Argentina
      • Australia
      • Austria
      • Belgium
      • Brazil
      • Cambodia
      • Canada
      • Chile
      • China
      • Colombia
      • Costa Rica
      • Czechoslovakia
      • Czech Republic
      • Denmark
      • East Timor
      • Faroe Islands
      • Finland
      • France
      • Germany
      • Georgia
      • Greece
      • Hong Kong
      • Hungary
      • Iceland
      • India
      • Indonesia
      • Iran
      • Iraq
      • Ireland
      • Israel
      • Italy
      • Japan
      • Latvia
      • Lebanon
      • Laos
      • Malaysia
      • Mexico
      • New Zealand
      • Nigeria
      • North Korea
      • Norway
      • Paraguay
      • Peru
      • Philippines
      • Poland
      • Romania
      • Russia
      • Saudi Arabia
      • Singapore
      • South Korea
      • South Africa
      • Soviet Union
      • Spain
      • Sweden
      • Switzerland
      • Syria
      • Taiwan
      • Thailand
      • Turkey
      • Uganda
      • United Kingdom
      • United States
      • Uruguay
      • Vietnam
      • Zambia
    • About
    The Mad Movie Man
    You are at:Home»Review»2373. Disobedience (2017)

    2373. Disobedience (2017)

    0
    By The Mad Movie Man on December 5, 2018 110-119 mins, 2017, 6 - 7.9, Dec 18, Drama, Movies Of 2018, Review, Romance, United Kingdom
    7.6 Exciting and intense
    • Acting 7.6
    • Directing 7.6
    • Story 7.6
    • User Ratings (0 Votes) 0

    Starring: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola

    Director: Sebastián Lelio

    Running Time: 114 mins


    Disobedience is a British film about a woman who returns to her Orthodox Jewish community, years after moving abroad when she was shunned for her relationship with a female friend of hers. However, upon her return, the two women’s feelings reignite, in the face of challenge and disapproval from the community.

    This isn’t the easiest film to get to grips with, but with two powerhouse central performances, impactful directing and a deeply affecting and unsettling atmosphere, Disobedience is one of the most exciting and intense romantic dramas I’ve ever seen, with thrilling and equally devastating high stakes that burn in the underbelly of the film’s complex depiction of religion, love and everything in between.

    Let’s start off with the most striking thing about this film, the fact that it’s just so heavy-going. Sure, lots of romantic dramas use some more grandiose stakes and injustices to keep the two leads apart, but there’s something about Disobedience that takes things a step further, and the consequences and fallout from the discovery of the two women’s illegitimate relationship make for incredibly tense viewing throughout.

    Director Sebastián Lelio does a fantastic job at giving the film that pulsating and terrifying atmosphere, as while the film goes deep into the most basic and passionate elements of love, the prying eyes all around these two women are what make their relationship pretty much doomed from the start, with the added impact of the strict religious and moral codes that those in this Orthodox Jewish community follow.

    Now, if you’re unfamiliar with Orthodox Jewish practice (as I am), then this film may initially come across as a little inaccessible, given its immense focus and attention to rigid religious rituals and scripture. However, it’s a bold and ultimately brilliantly effective attention to detail from Lelio, as the significance of these traditional practices in the film play on your mind to such an extent that you are able to fully understand how massive a fallout there would be if these two women’s relationship were exposed to the community, furthered by a fascinating and eye-opening dive into their past before they parted ways years before.

    As a result, this isn’t your average romantic drama, and while it is still an emotional love story, what really makes it work so well is that overbearing and incredibly intimidating atmosphere throughout, bringing intense high stakes to that central relationship that extened far beyond the two leading ladies.

    Speaking of which, the performances here are just as excellent. Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams are brilliant in the two lead roles, with a stunning chemistry that brings their relationship to life in vivid fashion, while each puts in a fantastic individual performance with their fairly differing characters, Weisz playing a more loud-mouthed breakaway from the traditional community, and McAdams a sheltered but eternally frustrated housewife whose life is turned upside down with the unexpected return of Weisz.

    There’s no doubt, then, that Disobedience is a riveting and enthralling romantic drama, but I will just say that, while it is definitely worth the watch, it’s not the world’s most accessible film. As well as what I mentioned about its significant focus on Orthodox Jewish religious practices and scripture, it’s a film that opens in a rather (although deliberately) vague manner.

    The first act leaves you with a whole lot more questions than answers, and although it ultimately comes good later on in the film, it is a movie that requires a good bit of patience and concentration at the start, so that you understand all of the different players and various consequences for what happens later on.

    In the end, though, I was very impressed by Disobedience. An intense, high-stakes and very exciting romantic drama with a terrifyingly intimidating atmosphere, it’s an enthralling watch throughout, furthered by sublime direction and two brilliant lead performances, which is why I’m giving it a 7.6.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    The Mad Movie Man
    • Website
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    The Mad Movie Man, AKA Anthony Cullen, writes articles and reviews about movies and the world of cinema. Since January 1st, 2013, he has watched and reviewed a movie every day. This is the blog dedicated to the project: www.madmovieman.com

    Related Posts

    7.1

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    Follow Me Online!
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • YouTube
    • Tumblr
    New Releases
    5.3
    January 17, 2022

    3620. Friendzone (2021)

    7.1
    January 10, 2022

    3612. The Lost Daughter (2021)

    8.0
    January 7, 2022

    3609. Licorice Pizza (2021)

    7.2
    January 7, 2022

    3608. Lamb (2021)

    7.4
    December 30, 2021

    3599. The King’s Man (2021)

    6.3
    December 29, 2021

    3598. The Matrix Resurrections (2021)

    8.4
    December 28, 2021

    3597. West Side Story (2021)

    6.3
    December 27, 2021

    3596. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021)

    Recommended Movies
    8.1
    Review
    November 17, 20130

    352. Vertigo (1958)

    8.8
    Review
    December 16, 20130

    384. Prisoners (2013)

    8.1
    Review
    October 16, 20200

    3123. A Nightmare On Elm Street (1984)

    8.0
    Review
    May 13, 20130

    151. Bridesmaids (2011)

    8.9
    Review
    August 9, 20130

    248. Air Force One (1997)

    Popular Posts
    7.1
    January 24, 2022

    3627. I Believe In Miracles (2015)

    5.8
    January 23, 2022

    3626. The Man With One Red Shoe (1985)

    7.9
    January 22, 2022

    3625. Ode To Joy (2019)

    7.4
    January 21, 2022

    3624. One Chance (2013)

    6.3
    January 20, 2022

    3623. Falling For Figaro (2020)

    7.5
    January 19, 2022

    3622. The Polka King (2017)

    6.0
    January 18, 2022

    3621. Spies In Disguise (2019)

    © 2022 ThemeSphere. Designed by ThemeSphere.

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.