Year: 2007
Director: Avi Nesher
Starring: Fanny Ardant, Ania Bukstein, Michal Shtamler
Rated: R
Summary: In order to escape her condescending fiancé and mourning her late mother, brilliant Naomi decides to enroll at an all-female seminary, where she befriends the rebellious Michelle. However, their friendship is tested when they meet a sickly Frenchwoman named Anouk, who is in need of atonement for her sins. Risking expulsion, Naomi and Michelle embark on a journey of self-discovery as they secretly study kabbalistic texts, learning cleansing rituals that will aid the mysterious Anouk.
Review: In the scheme of movies that can be classified as lesbian films, The Secrets is a rare breed. What’s so rare about this film is that its lesbian content will probably not be what you love most about it and what you most look forward to while watching it. At its core, this film is about wanting to break free of the boxes that society and even religion force you into. This theme goes hand-in-hand with many queer films, but The Secrets creates a myriad of plot points and characters that unify it without the feeling that it’s been done before. Anouk wishes to atone for her sins, yet rabbis refuse to help her because she is seen as abominable. Naomi grows more and more frustrated by the limitations of her gender within Orthodox Judaism, as despite her sharp knowledge and analytical prowess of Jewish texts that could rival that of any man sent to a traditional seminary, she is constantly reminded of how her gender prevents her from pursuing the paths she desires. The budding relationship between Naomi and Michelle also becomes a point of feeling caged in by religious and social norms, as the line between friendship and something more blurs. Though they both journeyed to the seminary for different reasons, they find the solace and comfort within each other that neither has ever felt before, forcing them to question the social strictures that want to break their relationship apart.
The evolution of said relationship grows realistically and never seems out-of-place, as this film paces itself very well and never feels boring despite its mainly solemn tone. Breaks of light-hearted humor, wacky characters, and uplifting moments keep this film from falling into moroseness due to its heavy themes and deep, feminist, and even philosophical points.
The acting is impeccable, particularly that of Ania Bukstein, whose portrayal of the reserved, emotionally-protected Naomi gives a very nuanced and engaging character to root for. Both Ardant and Shtamler as the quietly desperate Anouk and conflicted Michelle, respectively, are also stand-out performances, as the three of them play off of each other and creating full, fleshed-out, and unique relationships.
Despite a somewhat unfulfilling and bittersweet resolution, and content that may polarize religious viewers, The Secrets contains so much heart and so much intelligent conversation that its short-comings are superseded by its wonderful script and characters who feel grounded in reality and who you can’t help but want them to succeed, and want them to break free.
Rating: 4 ½ stars or A-
Sex Rating: 3 stars - The sex is not important! Watch this film anyway!
This review was submitted by Aria
