emotion. as silk ladder. a love story in forbidden area. religion and relationship. nude tale about two different men and their sin/error/adventure/crazy act. few words. drops of gestures, looks and shadows of feelings. ball of sadness and strange happiness, vulnerabilities, courage and fear. a white paper and crumbs of letters. a stranger as seed of a dangerous experience. family, society and a young man from nowhere to nowhere. a ritual bath and work in a kosher meat shop. death of father and new forms of beginning. fragility of old world and ambiguous place in tradition circle. it is not a movie about gay love but only love. it is not a movie about Juwish traditional laws but only picture of a closed society. it is not just a movie. but images of a trip behind ordinary expectations.

My first real insight into Jewish culture came when I read Mark Twain's eulogy on the subject. His lapidary essay talked of their (Jews') contributions to society being 'extravagantly out of proportion with the smallness of their bulk'. I was stunned then, and I continue to be awed by this meritorious minority. It was with some ambivalence then, that I decided to see Haim Tabakman's 'Eyes Wide Open', a film about forbidden love set amongst an Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem.Aaron Fleischman (Zohar Shtrauss) is ascetic and respected by his peers. He has a solid family unit, but there is a profound void in his life. He reopens his late father's butchers and finds he needs help. Enter Ezri (Ran Danker), a winsome, wandering student, whom Aaron hires, ostensibly to get closer to God.The assumption is that Ezri is already gay. He has a past and the rumour is that he is a 'curse to righteous men'. At first, Aaron rejects Ezri's advances. He says, without believing it himself, that 'God created lust for catharsis of the soul'. But soon they are closing early to engage in acts of licentious carnality.I found the under-acting, especially by Aaron, deeply irritating. Sure, he meant to convey an unspoken love, but he is never anything but aloof. Perhaps that was the intention. The few ethical debates Aaron has with his Rabbi are interesting (the Rabbi believes that alcohol can be consumed because 'God does not want us to suffer').With more impassioned acting and more set pieces (instead of the myriad shots of meat being chopped), it could have rivalled 'Brokeback Mountain' or 'My Beautiful Laundrette'. If nothing else, it was captivating to explore the world of this private, but extraordinary people. There was no need whatever for the full-on nudity in the final scene. Have we come to the point where we think that 12-year-olds can see absolutely anything and not be affected? It's surprising it didn't cause an outcry. 'Brokeback' had suspense and excitement, 'Laundrette' was fearless. With my eyes wide open, I couldn't see what this film had to offer.www.scottishreview.net

When I think of gay cinema, campy titles Too Wong Fu or I Love You Phillip Morris comes to mind, and so I am usually put off the idea of watching. However Eyes Wide Open is something totally different and quite intelligent. Here, life in a Jerusalem community is disrupted by the arrival of a young 'unorthodox' Orthodox Jewish student who proceeds to seduce an older Jewish Orthodox man, who is married with four children. The narrative follows the progress of this conflicted husband coping with what is essentially a midlife crisis, while having to deal with the relationship issues of his neighbor's daughter, whose open 'secret' affair with her boyfriend begins to mirror the problems developing in his own life.Employing a minimalist feel supported by a soundtrack reminiscent Soderbergh's Solaris and incorporating the use of washed-out colors and stark lighting to convey a bleak realism, Eyes Wide Open's over the top premise is dealt with realistically and intelligently, never once turning the story into a tabloid spectacle. Although a lack of dialog from the main characters makes it difficult for the audience to truly understand their motivation, the story still provides an interesting insight into the moral conflicts some individuals may face, while being true to their family and themselves.The only beef I have with this film is its 12 rating. There is some full nudity and a sex scene or two, which should have automatically given it a higher rating. Although its tastefully done and not pornographic in the least... it can make for an awkward viewing experience if watched with kids or someone more conservative.Check my profile for my blog and more reviews of Middle Eastern and Western Cinema.

A simple story, gently told, in a stark setting of almost medieval religiosity. I'm middle-aged gay European agnostic from Christian background and found this film enchanting and entertaining although sombre and downbeat. The 'purity police' were scary talibanesque types: you will comply or else. I did not know about such compliance methods in Judaism.The intolerance towards the 'seducer' gay man was ugly, so far removed from secular/reform attitudes around me.The main character (the butcher Aaron) was unfulfilled after siring four children and still having a loving and beautiful wife, felt 'dead inside'. But was that from the recent loss of his father, or some other reasons than just lust?