This was an interesting movie, as others have pointed out, because it gives a behind-the- scenes look at Orthodox Jews. But a big disappointment (for me, philosophically) was when Shira commented, "Maybe this is the way it was meant to work out." I can't remember the exact words, but that was the idea—that this marriage with her brother-in-law was somehow fated and her destiny. This school of thought legitimizes ANY action by dragging in fate. WHATEVER I do, it was "fated." Blah. Nonsense! Also, a little shiver went through me as I watched this because I was reminded of my junior prom in high school. I took the younger sister of my best friend. I was creeped out the whole time because (of course!) the younger sister had many of the characteristics of my friend...it was almost like dating him! Needless to say, I had no more dates with the younger sister. How much creepier it would be to marry your sister's husband! Kinky maybe, but definitely creepy. Inevitably he would call you by her name, attribute her qualities to you, etc. It's almost like you would be sacrificing your own identity to resurrect your dead sister. Yuk. And I think that's why the director ended the movie by showing them together in the bedroom after the wedding: What now? Was this really such a great idea? Another observation, which applies to Amish, Mennonites, etc. as well as to Orthodox Jews--why pick a period in time (the 17th c. seems to be a favorite) and pretend you still lived in 1650? If you were TRULY Orthodox, wouldn't you dress the way Moses did (for example)? Why seize upon Eastern Europe c. 1650? Those silly fur hats might be just the thing for a brisk Minsk winter, but they're just silly in balmy Israel. And surely Israel would be far more "authentic" and "Orthodox" than Minsk. Finally, I was reminded of my year living in a neighborhood filled with Lubovitch Jews. Occasionally the lady across the street would come over and ask me to turn on her stove on the Sabbath. No problem, I was happy to "help." Then one day I decided to check out the Sabbath regulations in the Old Testament. Sure enough, you weren't supposed to "work" on the Sabbath, which, if you stretched it, could include turning on the stove (how about the lights? And of course how about the effort required to walk across the street to get me to turn on the stove vs. the effort to simply turn on the stove myself?). But...wait! read a little further: these regulations also applied to "the stranger living among you." Surely I was the epitome of "the stranger living among you"! I still can't figure that one out.
Review of Fill the Void
