KEEP NOT SILENT - ORTHO-DYKES (ET SHEAAVA NAFSHI)
Israel 2004 – Director: Ilil Alexander – Original language: English, Hebrew – Subtitles: English – Length: 52 min.
From behind veils, curtains and via webcams three women articulate their struggle to reconcile their faith with their feelings in the Orthodox Jewish Community they belong to. Hiding their identity as Lesbians is the norm for two of them, Miriam-Esther and Ruth, yet the third, Yehudith, believes telling lies is a far worse sin and faces up to the intolerance of her fellow believers. The Torah declares their love for women a sin and to remain accepted by their kin they must be as veiled and secretive as they appear onscreen. However, the cost to their personal life is high for these so-called 'ortho-dykes' and they find great solace in the self-help group they belong to.
Ruth manages a compromise, sanctioned by her husband, to see her lover twice a week, yet Yehudith, a rabbi's daughter, is effectively ex-communicated. Yet only by lying, remaining anonymous and keeping silent can they continue their lives in their community. A sensitively made and inspirational image emerges of the struggle for acceptance of those who dare to differ. One that, though rooted in the exploration of one religious community, speaks to all of us.
Awards: Best Film, The Int. Women Film Festival, Israel; First Creation Award, DocAviv; Best Documentary, Israeli Academy Award; First Prize, Jerusalem Open House Competition; Audience Award, Torino International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival 2005
English/Original Title: Keep not silent - Ortho-Dykes. Camera: Udi Ben-Arie, Avigail Sperber, Uri Levi, Danor Glazer. Sound: Avisar Aga, Avi Weisblai. Editing: Oron Adar. Music: D.J E. Production: Ilil Independent Productions. Producer: Pamela Rosenberg, Lynn Roth. International Sales: Films Transit International.
