Eyes wide open

Would a devout Orthodox Jewish butcher, happily married with four young children, suddenly sense an uncontrollable desire to wet-kiss a homeless gay Torah student who's provided no clear seductive moves or signs of his homosexuality? Just after his butcher-father's death? In Jerusalem, in the old, traditionalist Hasidic quarter? Very soon after letting the younger man borrow his cellphone and giving him a job and a storeroom to sleep in? Would the younger man make passionate love while still pining for his previous Orthodox lover?

Audiences are expected to accept such far-fetched fairy-tale ideas by Eyes Wide Open. In parts, it's an interesting Israeli docudrama too, enabling outsiders to view and vaguely understand aspects of Jewish Orthodoxy: kissing entry doors, wearing two hats and vests, being bearded and conformist, the importance of cleansing rituals, ways to cut kosher meat, love of debate and questioning, belonging to an ultra-self-defensive minority. All that, and more insights, adds special value to an otherwise standard man-meets-man storyboard.

There have already been Mormon, cowboy, neo-Nazi and Muslim gay dramas, and there may well be Sikh, Amish, Tibetan Buddhist and Voodoo versions yet to be seen. There's even been a documentary feature about Hasidic gays (Trembling Before G-d, 2001). This 2009 dramatic contribution to the genre is good of its kind due to above-average pacing, lighting, editing and acting. It's a debut feature for both the writer (Merav Doster) and director (Haim Tabakman). Zohar Strauss (playing the tempted father) was previously seen in a supporting part in Lebanon and his co-lead, America-born Ran Danker, had one previous starring role in an Israeli movie (Restless). Their facial acting during silent scenes adds much to the stilted euphemistic dialogue, contradictory mood changes and fundamental incredibilities.

There's an eastern European air to the movie, a Chekhovian reticence, and a miserable final scene signalling self-repression and providing adding a touch of reality to this offbeat tale of doomed love.