Watch The Women's Balcony

The Women's Balcony is a 2016 Israeli movie directed by Emil Ben-Shimon that revolves around a small and observant community of Orthodox Jews living in Jerusalem. The movie throws light on the everyday struggles of the community as they try to stick to their strict religious beliefs, while also trying to lead a modern life. The story starts with an incident that happens in a synagogue during a bar mitzvah ceremony, where the women's balcony, the section of the synagogue designated for women, collapses. The elderly rabbi of the community, Rabbi Menashe (Igal Naor), is traumatized by the incident and is hospitalized. This leaves his wife, Ettie (Evelin Hagoel), who is also the heart and soul of the community, to steer the congregation and the well-being of her husband.

The community realizes that their synagogue is in dire need of repairs, and a wealthy member, Zion (Avraham Aviv Alush), offers to fund the restoration. But there's a catch, Zion is a fundamentalist and wants to impose his strict beliefs on the congregation. From this point on, the film takes on a more serious tone and becomes a social commentary on the dangers of fanaticism.

The conflict arises when Zion, along with his devout followers, starts imposing their ultra-Orthodox principles on the community. He takes over the renovation of the synagogue and ends up changing the entire atmosphere of the place. The women's balcony is reduced in size, and the women are forced to cover their hair and dress modestly, even though they had never adhered to such strict rules before. This disruption breaks the harmony of the community, and the women of the synagogue, who feel discriminated against and oppressed, decide to take matters into their own hands.

The women, led by Ettie, unite and create their own makeshift synagogue on a balcony outside Ettie's home. Here they discover the power of their collective voices and realize that they can make a difference through unity and strength. They work hard to raise funds to repair their beloved synagogue and see that it is restored to its original form.

Through its witty humor and poignant dialogues, the movie explores the power of togetherness and the strength of individual freedom. It highlights the need for unity and tolerance in communities that are built on tradition and faith.

The cast of The Women's Balcony shines with their performances, particularly Evelin Hagoel, who plays Ettie with grit and grace. She is the backbone of the story and is seen as the bridge between the traditional and the modern world. Naor, as Rabbi Menashe has a subdued performance, but underlines the stark reality of the plight of the elderly in such religious communities. Orna Banai plays the cantor's wife, who is a beacon of light for the women at the makeshift synagogue, and provides comic relief in the otherwise tense story.

The movie also boasts of excellent cinematography, capturing the warmth and beauty of Jerusalem and the people who inhabit it. The film's score, composed by Ahuva Ozeri, adds to the emotional depth of the story and is a perfect accompaniment to the visuals.

The Women's Balcony is a heartwarming story of women's empowerment, told with warmth, humor, and sensitivity. It's a must-watch for anyone who enjoys thought-provoking cinema and wants to experience the beauty of diversity and the power of community.

The Women's Balcony is a 2016 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 36 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6 and a MetaScore of 74.