International premiere

Barren

Local title
Viljatu(s)
Director
Mordechai Vardi
Country
Israel
Year
2022
Programme
First Feature Out of Competition, In Focus: Israel
Genre
drama
Subject
interpersonal relationships, love, abuse, religion

A childless young ultra-orthodox couple living with the husband’s parents have been craving a child for a long time. Every month they go thru each possible ritual to ensure that next month they receive the news they have been wishing for. After the husband travels aboard for a praying ritual a guest who presents himself as a rabbi is welcomed to the household. It is with sincere hope that by providing him shelter he in return can help to treat the bareness that seems to be looming the young family. Especially as he says he can heal people just by blowing an ancient musical horn. One night a „ritual “is taken too far and trust is broken as the wife is raped. When the husband returns from his journey the real questions about faith, trust and marriage are raised.

Mordechai Vardi debut gives a rare and honest but unfortunately common insight to an ultraorthodox religious environment. As he tackles theological questions and puts the religious faith to the test, he also questions the fundamentals of love and what wins in the end of the day.

Triin Tramberg

Director
Mordechai Vardi
Screenwriter
Mordechai Vardi
Cast
Mili Eshet, Yoav Rotman, Ilanit Ben-Yaakov, Nevo Kimchi, Michael Vigel
Producer
Haggai Arad, Aharon Peer, Elad Peleg
DoP
Uri Ackerman
Editor
Zohar Sela
Composer
Avi Belleli
Production
Daroma Productions
Runtime
Language
Hebrew
Subtitles
Estonian, English
Director
Mordechai Vardi

Filmograafia Mom Is Not Crazy (2014, doc), HaSade (2017, doc), Reflected Light (2018, doc), Hatuna Hafucha (2020), Barren (2022)

Screenings

7th Hall Apollo Kino Coca-Cola Plaza
Screening120501 / Viljatu(s)
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Q&A guestsMordechai Vardi (Film Director), Yoav Rotman (Actor), Mili Eshet (Actor), Uri Ackerman (Cinematographer)
Q&A duration
Screening duration
Hall Electric Cinema, Tartu
Screening132203 / Viljatu(s)
SubtitlesEnglish, Estonian
Screening duration
Trailer