My Father My Lord

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My Father My Lord

2008

1h 14m

Drama

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Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

95%

Tomatometer

37 Reviews

76%

Popcornmeter

1,000+ Ratings

The leader of a small ultra-orthodox community in Tel Aviv, Rabbi Abraham Edelman (Assi Dayan) is absolutely inflexible about doctrine. It's a trait that has won him no shortage of respect from his peers, but it's beginning to cause conflict with his son (Ilan Griff). Little Menahem has a growing fascination with the natural world, and simply can't understand why his father must shoo a mother bird from her nest, or insist that dogs have no souls.

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Critics Consensus

This beautiful Israeli film is both a moving family drama and a potent examination of the trials of faith.

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Wally Hammond

Time Out

You could say this film is at once a secular fable on a religious dilemma and an almost religious parable about an all-too-human tragedy.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 5, 2010

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Sukhdev Sandhu

Daily Telegraph (UK)

Helped by gorgeous photography and sound design, it's a work of considerable force that bears comparison with Terence Davies's early films.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 5, 2010

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London Evening Standard

Brilliantly acted, shot with rare skill and has the force of a Biblical parable without losing its essential affection towards its characters, even Abraham. Do not miss it.

Rated: 5/5

Jan 5, 2010

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Edward Porter

Sunday Times (UK)

This approach - together with Volach's tenderness in describing Menahem's sense of wonder - makes the film's middle scenes beguiling.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 5, 2010

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Philip French

Observer (UK)

All three actors are excellent.

Jan 5, 2010

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Philip Kemp

Total Film

A compelling, saddening film.

Rated: 3/5

Jan 5, 2010

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Audience Member

Every frame is lovingly crafted in this finely acted and scored film, which drives hard and true to its excruciating conclusion. I loved this film because it gave a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Ultra-Religious, and into the mentality in which every move in their life is governed by the Torah. This lifestyle does not encourage free thinking, and the "believers" look at every daily decision in terms of Jewish law. This is a life observed in small detail. The cumulative effect, however, is devastating. I only wish every fundamentalist in the world can be made to see it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

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Audience Member

Jewish drama about absurdity and futility of faith. Loved it!

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

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Audience Member

Very moving and relevant to today. Never overplayed. Confident and intelligent writing and direction. Well worth seeing.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

01/26/23

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Audience Member

Short and powerful, showing the conflict between family and religion.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/21/23

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Mike M

Low-key but admirably complex drama - a quiet eyeopener from writer-director Volach... It may be a hard sell in the marketplace, I suspect, as it leaves us - like the rabbi - with no easy answers, but it's a scholarly, respectful work, taking particular care to delineate between faith and its various (mis)applications.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

11/23/09

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Audience Member

Plaintive violins married with hysterically wheedling (contra-?) religious bullpucky. There's some nice Israeli verisimilitude, but when the story isn't splashing its themes at you (Orthodoxy! Oedipal anxiety! Mild oppression! The crush of grief!) it's just falling into some thoughtless, tepid bath in them.

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

01/24/23

Full Review

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David Volach

Director

Assi Dayan

Rabbi Abraham Eidelmann

Ilan Griff

Menahem Eidelmann

Sharon Hacohen-Bar

Esther Eidelmann

David Volach

Writer

Eyal Shiray

Producer

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Synopsis

The leader of a small ultra-orthodox community in Tel Aviv, Rabbi Abraham Edelman (Assi Dayan) is absolutely inflexible about doctrine. It's a trait that has won him no shortage of respect from his peers, but it's beginning to cause conflict with his son (Ilan Griff). Little Menahem has a growing fascination with the natural world, and simply can't understand why his father must shoo a mother bird from her nest, or insist that dogs have no souls.

Director: David Volach
Producer: Eyal Shiray
Screenwriter: David Volach
Distributor: Kino International
Genre: Drama
Original Language: Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jun 20, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA): $108.7K
Runtime: 1h 14m
Sound Mix: Dolby Digital

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