Gett: The Trial Of Viviane Amsalem
"Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem" is precisely what the title promises. Viviane (Ronit Elkabetz, who also directed the film along with her partner) is an Israeli woman who wants out of her unhappy marriage. Due to how marriage law works in Israel, she cannot do this without the consent of her husband, Elisha (Simon Abkarian). Viviane takes Elisha to trial, where Rabbis act to moderate the discourse but are unwilling to force Elisha's hand.
The trial lasts three years, and "Gett" follows it in its entirety without ever leaving the courtroom. It's a neat narrative trick, one that gives the film a laser-sharp focus on its characters. "Gett" is a film of uncommon intimacy and grace that is nonetheless riveting, leaving you connected and heartbroken at Viviane's plight.
As the trial progresses, it becomes more and more about everything besides Viviane's request for divorce. The Rabbis frequently accuse her of misconduct. Was she a good wife? Did she obey the sabbath? Is she being adulterous? Her entire person is called into question by the people who are supposed to form an impartial body. Elkabetz plays it masterfully. She deserves awards.
The rest of the cast is equally compelling. Carmel (Menasheh Noy), Viviane's lawyer and stalwart ally, expresses most of her case, as Viviane rarely is given the right to even speak and defend herself. He isn't married, has no children, and over time his motivations are unfairly called into question. As Elisha, Simon Abkarian sits silently with a constant look of disgust on his face; it's no wonder Viviane spends three years trying to divorce him. Witnesses, including old friends and next-door neighbors, manage to bring the unseen outside world into the courtroom. Although all of the action is within the courtroom, "Gett" depicts Viviane's world so fully that it goes beyond a gimmick. It's artful, impassioned. The actors all work within the confines of the set and, as a result, create something special.
"Gett" wears its commentary of Israel's theocratic, patriarchal system of marriage on its sleeves. At one point, Viviane screams "This would never happen in America!" We would be so enlightened. While the depiction of Viviane's divorce is troubling enough, the true tension of the movie comes from her relationship with the Rabbis, who clearly side with her husband, and the pettiness of the cultural inequalities that make it so. Up to and including the ending of the film, they encourage her to return to him, to make amends at the expense of herself. They ignore her pleas, her personhood. Favoring the words and perspective of privileged groups in court cases is just as common in the United States. While "Gett" is a horror story about one culture's messed-up system, it doesn't pretend to stop there.
"Gett" is impressive. It's a movie about one room, about societal systems that we can't seem to shake off, about a singularly compelling woman named Viviane Absalem who is undeterred despite her righteousness being doubted at every turn. It's unabashedly political and incredibly intimate. A thriller defined by dialogue and subtlety. A must-see.