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Fill the Void

Play trailer Poster for Fill the Void PG Released May 24, 2013 1h 30m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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89% Tomatometer 73 Reviews 69% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
After a young Hasidic woman dies in childbirth, her 18-year-old sister (Hadas Yaron) is asked to cancel her upcoming marriage to a promising young man and marry her widowed brother-in-law (Yiftach Klein) instead.
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Fill the Void

Fill the Void

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Critics Consensus

Graceful, complex, and beautifully layered, Fill the Void offers a sympathetic portrait of an insulated culture by exploring universal themes.

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Critics Reviews

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Larushka Ivan-Zadeh metro.co.uk [Rama] Burshtein oppressively captures the claustrophobia of a close-knit community where every daily act - from opening a door to eating - is a religious ritual. Rated: 3/5 Sep 6, 2017 Full Review Jonathan Romney Sight & Sound As opposed to the bleak view of sexual subjugation in Kadosh, Amos Gitai's 1999 film about Hasidic marriage, Fill the Void sees Burshtein fortrightly and wittily asserting that this is how her community lives. Feb 6, 2014 Full Review Mark Kermode Observer (UK) An intelligent and moving examination of the possibilities of personal freedom within the strict confines of religion and tradition. Rated: 4/5 Dec 16, 2013 Full Review Richard Propes TheIndependentCritic.com While Burshtein does offer up that sense of reverence and communal commitment, she doesn't idealize the community and isn't afraid to show the more business aspects of Purim. Rated: 3.5/4.0 Sep 7, 2020 Full Review Debbie Lynn Elias Behind The Lens Steeped in tradition, religion and ritual, Fill The Void fills a void in cinema with warmth and insight into the mysteries of love and life. Nov 27, 2019 Full Review Marco Duse CineVue Almost all of the film's characters are so well-rounded, and their personal and moral nagging so well-defined, that every single shot feels full of life and vitality. Most commendable of all, Burshtein treats her subject with delicacy. Rated: 3/5 Mar 6, 2019 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Audience Member Jewish. Why would I watch this? Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 08/26/24 Full Review nefasto r I am very interested in Orthodox Jews and their lifestyle, so I watched with pleasure "Fill the Void", a film directed by a a woman converted to that faith. To be honest it is not a great movie, mostly because I found it a bit confusing at the beginning and there are few passages that should have been explored and explained, but at least if feel sincere and honest, and at the end it is a nice portrait of that little universe. Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member Fill the Void is an enchanting film, well acted, that celebrates the strong bonds which help a family to navigate the pain of death, birth and new beginnings in deep loving ties that bind. Deeply sympathetic to the Hassidic community. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/03/23 Full Review Audience Member A breath-taking look into Hasidic Jewish life not often seen by the outside world that is wonderfully photographed and directed. This little gem shines in its heart-tugging dialogue! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 02/15/23 Full Review Audience Member the only thing i didn't like about this movie is a final scene where i would expect some sort of silent dialog, anything that would make me feel less guilty for being happy for their unorthodox "happy end". otherwise it's a beautifully developed story of love, loss, sacrificing, everything life has to offer. there is erotic tension slowly built between two lost people inside the tiny space of a dark apartment they almost don't leave during the movie. different people come in and out, each one has important role in the main characters lives, still there is enough space for everything and everyone, so much drama and so many emotions. even if it's only filling the void, i want all the characters to find happiness. Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/20/23 Full Review Audience Member Rama Burshtein's beautiful film is an insider's insightful look at an Orthodox Hassidic community that had me second-guessing my own thoughts and misconceptions about arranged marriages. It's always great to dive into unknown worlds and different cultures and Burshtein is the perfect guide. She does it with so much respect for what it is ultimately a largely misunderstood and marginalised community. It is not about religion, most definitely not about secularism, but it's about the human heart and as nearly every critic pointed out Jane Austen fans should enjoy it immensely. The cinematography by Asaf Sudri is particularly stunning, to the point I had to pause frames to admire them! A breathtaking debut feature film and hopefully not the last we'll see from Burshtein. Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/25/23 Full Review Read all reviews
Fill the Void

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Movie Info

Synopsis After a young Hasidic woman dies in childbirth, her 18-year-old sister (Hadas Yaron) is asked to cancel her upcoming marriage to a promising young man and marry her widowed brother-in-law (Yiftach Klein) instead.
Director
Rama Burshtein
Producer
Assaf Amir
Screenwriter
Rama Burshtein
Distributor
Sony Pictures Classics
Production Co
Norma Productions
Rating
PG (Mild Thematic Elements|Brief Smoking)
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters)
May 24, 2013, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Sep 7, 2014
Box Office (Gross USA)
$1.8M
Runtime
1h 30m
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