When the two actresses shared moments alone it was wonderful. Minutes dipped in sweetness and sadness, with an air of nostalgia. Not that I expected any less of them.
Still, this movie was made by a man, and while it is soft, and feels sometimes like it has a woman's touch, the eye is clearly male. So the intricacies of a female friendship, the tight weaves, especially of one that evolved into a romance, are subdued. These two women would hardly waste time discussing trivial things. They would hardly need words to connect emotionally. Their dialogue should have entirely been a clash of viewpoints, with huge emotional undercurrents, love and lust stuck in a web of formalities and banned through a strict, religious upbringing.
Lastly, this movie lacks a resolution. Esti married her husband to be "cured". While I understand her upbringing wouldn't leave her much choice, either do as your told or be an outcast, after all these years, after the fallout with her husband, after admitting she is not attracted to men, after realising she doesn't want to raise a child in such an environment, and after she is provided with an alternative, she stays with her husband because, what? He gave a freedom speech? It just didn't make any sense. She was an educated, full grown woman living in London of all places, she had options.
Still, this movie was made by a man, and while it is soft, and feels sometimes like it has a woman's touch, the eye is clearly male. So the intricacies of a female friendship, the tight weaves, especially of one that evolved into a romance, are subdued. These two women would hardly waste time discussing trivial things. They would hardly need words to connect emotionally. Their dialogue should have entirely been a clash of viewpoints, with huge emotional undercurrents, love and lust stuck in a web of formalities and banned through a strict, religious upbringing.
Lastly, this movie lacks a resolution. Esti married her husband to be "cured". While I understand her upbringing wouldn't leave her much choice, either do as your told or be an outcast, after all these years, after the fallout with her husband, after admitting she is not attracted to men, after realising she doesn't want to raise a child in such an environment, and after she is provided with an alternative, she stays with her husband because, what? He gave a freedom speech? It just didn't make any sense. She was an educated, full grown woman living in London of all places, she had options.