REVIEW: ‘Fill the Void’ details one’s wayward path to marriage
Fill the Void, written and directed by Rama Burshtein, is a finely crafted movie about a young woman and young man who both face some challenges in the process of marriage.
Shira is an 18-year-old from an Orthodox Hassidic family in Tel Aviv, Israel. Her nuptials are pending; however, the family is disrupted by the unexpected and heart-wrenching death of Shira’s oldest sister, Esther. This leaves Shira’s brother-in-law, Yochay, with a tough decision to either stay in Israel with his own daughter or head to Europe. Shira, in the beginning of this tale, was headed toward a smooth marriage ceremony, and then everything becomes uncertain.
Burshtein has a clever way of presenting reality. She doesn’t have showy scenes or terribly dramatic situations that act as typical climaxes. Instead she lets Shira and her family live life for the duration of the film, and their contemplation, hurt, joy and cultural practices are on believable, stirring display. Fill the Void truly allows a window into the souls of these characters.
Questions of love, respect, family and religion are brought to the forefront in the script, but none of the topics sound preachy or needlessly controversial. Burshtein’s film simply depicts the characters as they endure life’s problems and enjoy life’s triumphs. This reality is probably why the film was so well received and earned accolades around the world. It feels authentic and nonjudgmental — a simple story dealing with profound topics for discussion.
The cast is uniformly excellent, including Hadas Yaron’s anchoring performance as Shira. Her character holds much of the film together. As the audience watches the highs and lows of her pending marriage, it’s hard not to feel Yaron’s warmth for the role and the dedication she brings to the acting. It’s an understated but effective performance.
The same can be said about Yiftach Klein’s Yochay and the many other actors who bring these friends and family to life.
Religious and cultural practices are often showcased in films, but it’s difficult to find a movie like Fill the Void, which chooses to sidestep editorialization and simply holds the lens like a documentarian would. Burshtein is able make the audience care so much about Shira’s future and present predicament. She is pulled in so many directions that it feels like a false step will be taken at any moment. Shira’s navigating through the relationships, love and expectations of her family make Fill the Void a thrilling drama often unseen in movie theaters.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
- Fill the Void
- 2013
- Written and directed by Rama Burshtein
- Starring Hadas Yaron, Yiftach Klein, Chayim Sharir and Irit Sheleg
- Running time: 90 minutes
- Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief smoking
- Rating:
