Review of Disobedience (2018) by "Esti"Not R — 11 May 2018

While the performances are all obviously skilled - as is the execution in general - I felt it was not a very good movie for many reasons. There were moments where the overwhelming sense was that gaps were being filled.

- The story wasn't strong enough throughout. I read the novel and there were some deviations which I think hurt the film. One was the sex scene. - I've heard the cast & director speak of Rachel's part in the sex scene being of importance because it's a liberating moment for her.

I felt Rachel shows to be the most liberated character in the movie upon meeting her way before the sex scene (and I don't think the actress's performance is flawed). I felt strongly that the sex scene was gratuitous and that there was a cold disconnect.

It seemed to lack love as well as real passion. There was just something cold about it which was disturbing because it was so graphic. The second problem I had with the deviation from the novel was the ending.

If I'm not mistaken, in the novel Rachel & Dovid stay together. This makes most sense. It's clear they've built a peaceful life together and by Dovid's words that they'd been trying for so long to conceive - it seems off that Rachel would leave him.

It felt to me like the direction of the movie aimed to make a statement with Rachel demanding her freedom. It really knocked the integrity of the movie down a few more pegs for me at the end. The most interesting thing about this movie for me is the film score.

I hadn't heard music used like that in a movie in awhile and it was a nice & welcome surprise.