Valeria Mithatenet

This movie won Israel's annual award for Best Screenplay. The screenplay is written with considerable restraint, which presumably was all right with the director because the director wrote the screenplay. Often the audience's attention is held by a tight focus that picks out one character-- not necessarily the speaker-- while leaving the others blurry; the device works well to avoid distractions and monotony in the setting of a little apartment. There is also a musical soundtrack-- a string quartet, sometimes louder than necessary. The story is about two couples-- one brand new, the other ostensibly stable but subject to collateral damage from the tribulations of the new one. Valeria, the character, has just come to Israel and, interestingly, the actress herself is not an immigrant playing a new arrival but a complete foreigner, chosen in order not to unwittingly display any sense of belonging. The audience sympathizes with her while finding her a little inscrutable. (At least that's my take; my wife considers the character's motivations quite clear.) She says little, and it's the other three actors who all received best-of-year nominations. The film comes in a bit under 90 minutes, and if you're content to watch that long without car chases, nude scenes, and vampires, I recommend it.

Christina, a confident Ukrainian woman, is eagerly waiting for her younger sister Valeria to arrive from Ukraine. Valeria is coming to Israel to meet her fiancé Eytan for the first time. Their marriage was arranged online, similar to how Christina's was, but she has since found happiness with Michael. Now, she hopes for the same joy for her sister! However, when Valeria and Eytan finally meet, things quickly turn awkward as Valeria starts to have doubts. Michael then puts the blame on Christina for Valeria's cold attitude, as the whole arrangement also benefits him. Christina's role as a wife begins to feel increasingly unstable...

The idea of arranged marriage still offers many women a way out of difficult living situations today. In her richly atmospheric play, Israeli director Michal Vinik skillfully unpacks the dynamics of patriarchal power and dependency. This Israeli-Ukrainian collaboration may be small, but it features strong performances and prompts important discussions about the connection between relationships and personal freedom.

After Blush!' her other film before this! And although I loved Blush superbly , this was just as fine, but to do what she does here , to do what she does basically anytime this lady sets pen to paper is nothing short of miraculous why? There is no budget , there is nothing, no big gambit or thing , there's just a few characters then all of a sudden at some point you just know you can't stop watching the thing cause you are so rapt into the thing and you're like but if there was never a thing and there is no thing, how am I so into this thing! This lady is a teacher, creative arts , now I don't believe in this sort of thing, you can't teach creative writing, its an impossibility, its a thing that has to be born, lest one founders on a blank page how can a non-creative create when there is nothing there, that's impossible! Like asking someone to build a house with no tools no foudnation no bricks or wood or anything! The metaphors are sloppy and go and on but it is true , until we can figure out how to unlock all of our potentials as humans we must accept the sad fact that we are limited and our time on earth is limited so we should try to work on our short-comings yes but thrive at our strengths!!!!! And this lady if you must look into a teacher, this person is the one! I would if I had the money go to Isreal and sit in her classes sans homework and just sit and listen and soak up all of her wisdom! She IS the true work of art! Doubtless!