“Freedom is the most difficult mitzvah.”VIBE CHECK:Atmospheric / Restrained / Intellectual / Deeply ReligiousTHE PLOT:Ronit (Rachel Weisz), a photographer who fled her Orthodox Jewish upbringing for a secular life in New York, returns to London following the death of her estranged rabbi father. Her arrival destabilizes her childhood community, particularly her former lover, Esti (Rachel McAdams), who is now married to the community’s rising spiritual leader, Dovid (Alessandro Nivola). As Ronit and Esti rekindle their electric chemistry, they are forced to confront the high price of living authentically within a system built on conformity and tradition. THE QUEER & RADICAL ANGLE: The Radical Middle Ground: Unlike many films where a religious character simply loses their faith and leaves, Disobedience explores the radical struggle of someone (Esti) trying to reconcile her queer identity with a sincere love for her faith and community. A "Spit" in the Face of the Gaze: The film’s central sex scene is celebrated for its focus on "lustful attention" and female agency. It features a kinky, defiant moment involving saliva that serves as a radical reclamation of bodily autonomy and intimacy in a world that demands modesty. Intergenerational Healing: The film concludes with a complicated, nuanced ending that isn't purely tragic or triumphant, but rather a "masterfully composed" study of free will and the ability to "disobey" for the sake of the soul. WHY IT KILLS:The "Inter-Rachel" chemistry between Weisz and McAdams is legendary; Weisz brings an effortless charisma as the rebel, while McAdams delivers a "revelation" of a performance as a woman navigating a metaphorical meat grinder of suppression. Directed by Sebastián Lelio (A Fantastic Woman), the film is a visually muted, slow-burn masterpiece that understands that a soft glance or a subtle touch can be more revolutionary than a loud protest.
DEVOTION SCORE: 9.2 / 10 🕍🕯️
👑 DISOBEDIENCE (2017)
