Kadosh (Sacred)

Kadosh, which mean "sacred" in Hebrew, is a dark, intense Israeli drama. It is a realistic indictment of religious fanaticism among the ultra-orthodox Chasidic Jews in their community in Jerusalem.  This is a place so extreme that women are stoned for daring to go sleeveless, and cars are stoned if driven on the sabbath. The film is exceptionally deliberate with a slow pace that is unbroken, but it offers a rare, highly detailed glimpse into such an insular world.

Kadosh follows two sisters, one forced out of and the other forced into a marriage. This film shows that Chasidic woman's only function is to procreate, furnishing the legions who will overrun the sect's enemies. The personal needs of the womenl--love, privacy, self-determination--are pitted against the demands of society, a very old theme.

Without saying more about Kadosh you should realize that this a terribly complex movie about a group that attempts to live in the 15th century without regard for what has happened over the past six centuries. As a result you see the turmoil of women who are religious and must give up everything for this unflexible, brutal religion.

You will have to be in the right mood to watch this movie.