Gett Thee to the Boe for a Feminist Knockout

In Israel there is neither civil marriage nor civil divorce; only rabbis can legalize a marriage or its dissolution, which is only possible with the husband’s full consent.

The plight of women whose husbands deny them a gett, thereby depriving them of the ability to remarry, is brought into dramatic close-up in “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem.” The Boedecker Theater screens the film May 5-8, with a talkback by Kathryn Bernheimer at Wednesday’s 7:00 pm screening. Click here to purchase tickets.

Ronit Elkabetz, an acclaimed Israeli actress, stars in this provocative drama, which she wrote with her brother Shlomi. In their latest film, she plays an embattled housewife who is seeking a divorce from Elisha, who entangles her in a long courtroom battle.

Nominated for the Best Foreign Film at the Golden Globes, the film has been greeted enthusiastically by the public and the press.

The New York Times review is worth a read.

Critics Pick! “Gripping cinema from start to finish…assured, streamlined and bold” – Manohla Dargis, The New York Times

“Provocative…impossible to forget.” – Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times

“Quivers with tension, impatience, comic heat, and, beneath it all, an irrepressible rage…Ronit Elkabetz, in her ability to compel and hold the eye, has few rivals” – Anthony Lane, The New Yorker

“Brilliant.” – David Edelstein, New York Magazine

5 stars! “A feminist knockout.” – Joshua Rothkopf, Time Out NY

3 ½ stars! “Riveting.” – Farran Smith Nehme, NY Post

“Rarely does a film integrate a social and political message within a forceful drama as masterfully asGett.” – Christopher Silvester, Newsweek

“Expertly written, brilliantly acted…The beautifully modulated script, ripe with moments of liberating humor, builds to a crescendo of indignation, allowing Elkabetz several cathartic outbursts, but they’re no more riveting than the actress’ silences.” – Jay Weissberg, Variety

“Densely rich drama, told with stringent austerity but also humor and judicious empathy…an altogether strange but astonishing work of craftsmanship.” – Leslie Felperin, The Hollywood Reporter

“A very suspenseful courtroom drama. The performances are quite perfect.” – Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune

“Mesmerizing.” – Peter Sobczynski, RogerEbert.com

“Fascinating.” – Dan Fainaru, Screen Daily