The Secrets

R

Released Nov 26, 2008

2h 7m

Drama

List

67%

15 Reviews

Tomatometer

83%

500+ Ratings

Audience Score

An Israeli woman (Ania Bukstein) from a strict religious household falls in love with her classmate (Michal Shtamler) at a women's seminary.

Read More

Read Less

Watch on Fandango at Home

Premiered Jan 04

Buy Now

Fandango at Home

Rent The Secrets on Fandango at Home, or buy it on Fandango at Home.

Robert Koehler

Variety

Excessively overwrought and drawn out.

Jan 19, 2017

Full Review

Andrew Sarris

Observer

One of the most remarkable movies of the year.

Jan 19, 2017

Full Review

Kristi Mitsuda

Village Voice

Although overlong by about 20 minutes, The Secrets mostly handles its subject matter with grace and charm; its heroine's proud defiance even mitigates a questionably celebratory conclusion.

Jan 19, 2017

Full Review

Prairie Miller

NewsBlaze

The Kabbalah meets the Kinsey Reports, in this Madonna style mystical erotic brew. And a somewhat biased male take on thwarted female desires, along with simmering same sex homoerotic religious expressive tendencies.

Jan 19, 2017

Full Review

Douglas Perry

Oregonian

Even with rote characterizations and an overheated lesbian subplot, this religion-steeped Israeli tale is entertaining, eye-opening, even cautiously sexy.

Jan 19, 2017

Full Review

Frank Wilkins

Reel Reviews

Nesher's skillful hand as director and the convincing performances of the lead actresses allow both halves of the film to peacefully coexist without becoming overly schmaltzy.

Sep 6, 2010

Full Review

Read all reviews

allan h

Intense, sweaty even, in close quarters, beautifully acted and intelligently directed.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Ha-Sodot is one of the most profound and thought-provoking films I have seen this year. Naomi has been raised in a religious and patriarchal family and is already engaged. To gain more time before the marriage (which she isn't desiring either), she tells her dad she wants to continue studying for a longer period. She therefore attends a midrasha (all female seminary), where she meets another girl, Michel, who comes from a completely different background: she lives in France in a liberal family, and is sent by force to the midrasha. The two girls are completely different from one another, but they are both very intelligent, and forge a great friendship, which is tested by the relationship they develop with Anouk, a woman which they visit weekly as a community service activity. In order to help Anouk, who is terminally ill and has arrived to the town seeking redemption, Naomi has to read some cabalistic texts (which is something reserved for men in the conservative society in which she lives), and they have to undergo some risky adventures in order to complete the whole "redemption procedure". Naomi puts her own future at risk in order to do this, and does unthinkable things for someone conservative. What is truly great is the intense friendship between both girls, which seems to be something more at a given point. A friendship that gets tested to the limit... but survives.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

01/12/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Not quite what I expected... many storylines.... still a good watch...

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

01/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

An absolutely stunning movie about the power of faith, friendship and why standing up for what you believe is vital. Yes that may sound like a kilo of Swiss Gruyere, but it isn't. Let's be honest, those who know me know how I often feel about religion. The character development is slow and touching, the story beautiful and very moving. I don't appear to have enough superlatives for this one. Look for it on DVD on US or French websites (note it's in Hebrew). Don't miss it.

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

02/17/23

Full Review

Audience Member

I decided to watch this because I thought it was a 'lesbian' film which it kind of is but mostly isn't. Moving look at the roles and expectations of women in an orthodox Jewish environment and what you need to give up to remain traditional AND what you give up to forge your own path.

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

02/15/23

Full Review

Audience Member

flawed, but very enjoyable, intriguing watch. the ending was frustrating, but oh well. amazing chemistry between the two stunning female leads, was a lil sorry when the film ended. nice theme song too. shall endeavor to watch more israeli flicks.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/19/23

Full Review

Read all reviews

Post a rating

Avi Nesher

Director

Fanny Ardant

Anouk

Ania Bukstein

Naomi

Michal Shtamler

Michelle

Sefi Rivlin

Rabbi Hess

Guri Alfi

Michael

Show Less Cast & Crew

Show More Cast & Crew

73%

87%

Walk on Water

27%

%

Downtown: A Street Tale

56%

44%

The Kreutzer Sonata

52%

78%

The Holy Land

100%

78%

Things Behind the Sun

Discover more movies and TV shows.

View More

View more photos

Synopsis

An Israeli woman (Ania Bukstein) from a strict religious household falls in love with her classmate (Michal Shtamler) at a women's seminary.

Director: Avi Nesher
Producer: Leon Edery, Moshe Edery, Sharon Harel, André Malignac
Screenwriter: Hadar Galron, Avi Nesher
Distributor: Monterey Media
Production Co: Artomas Communications, Tu Vas Voir Productions, Metro Communications
Rating: R (Brief Language|Some Nudity|Sexuality)
Genre: Drama
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 26, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Jan 12, 2016
Box Office (Gross USA): $122.1K
Runtime: 2h 7m

Most Popular at Home Now