Eyes Wide Open (2009)

Eyes Wide Open (2009)

Einayim Petukhoth (original title)

Director: Haim Tabakman 
Writers: Merav Doster 
Genre: Drama, Romance 
Country:  Israel
Language: English, French, German, Hebrew, Yiddish
Duration: 91 min 
Year: 2009

Stars: Zohar Shtrauss, Ran Danker, Tinkerbell, Tzahi Grad, Isaac SharryAaron, a married Orthodox Jewish father of four living in Jerusalem, takes over his family’s butcher shop after the recent death of his father. Ezri, a nineteen-year-old homeless Yeshiva student, visits the shop to use the telephone. After turning down Ezri’s offer to help around the shop, he later finds Ezri asleep in the local synagogue and offers him space to stay at the shop. Aaron takes Ezri on as an apprentice and encourages his religious studies and his talent for drawing.

e two men become close after Ezri invites Aaron to take a ritual bath in the outskirts of the city. Rivka, Aaron’s devoted wife, initially welcomes her husband’s apprentice into their family circle. One evening after Aaron asks Ezri to draw his portrait, Ezri makes a sexual advance, which Aaron rebuffs. Later, however they kiss and begin a sexual relationship. Rivka becomes suspicious when her husband begins to arrive late at home. Rabbi Vaisben, a family friend, warns Aaron against associating too closely with Ezri, reporting that he was expelled from his local yeshiva, but Aaron defends him. Rivka, increasingly concerned, sees them leaving the shop together late at night. Being a devout religious man, living in a Haredi community, Aaron is torn between his family and devotion to God, and the intense feelings he has for Ezri .[2][3]

Aaron is repeatedly told that Ezri is a bad influence and perhaps even cursed; local people start warning Ezri to stay away from them. Flyers begin to circulate in the neighborhood, prompting many to boycott the butcher’s shop. Under increasing social, commercial and family pressure, Aaron tries to break off ties with Ezri but is unable to bring himself to do so. Confronted by Rabbi Vaiseben, Aaron is unabashed, feeling alive only now. Ezri encounters his former lover on the streets of their neighborhood, which escalates into Ezri being attacked by some locals. Aaron witnesses the attack but does not intervene. He consoles Ezri afterwards, but they both realize it is time for Ezri to leave the community. Aaron continues to be distressed by this, asking for Rivka’s understanding and protection. He returns early one morning to the spot where he took a bath with Ezri. He submerges himself beneath the water for a prolonged period before the camera fades to black.

Einayim Petukhoth (2009)

• Director: Haim Tabakman

• Writers:
  Merav Doster

• Countries:Israel, Germany, France

• Genres:Drama, Romance

• Runtime:91 minutes

• Actors:
  Aaron Fleischman (as Zohar Strauss)

  Zohar Shtrauss
  Ezri

  Ran Danker
  Rivka Fleischman

  Tinkerbell
  Rabbi Vaisben

  Tzahi Grad
  Mordechai

  Isaac Sharry
  Israel Fischer (as Avi Grayinik)

  Avi Grainik
  Sara

  Eva Zrihen-Attali
  Ultraourthodox Weirdo (as Haim Znati)

  Haim Zanati
  Ex-boy Friend

  Mati Atlas
  Head of Yeshiva Student in the Butchery (as Iftach Ofir)

  Iftach Ophir

• Languages:Hebrew, Yiddish, German, French, English

• Plots:
  Aaron (Zohar Shtrauss), a respected butcher and a family man in an Ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood in Jerusalem, leads a conservative life of community devotion and spiritual dedication. Aaron's life undergoes a series of emotional changes following the arrival of a young apprentice (Ran Danker) to his shop. Consumed with lust, the handsome "Yeshiva" student irreversibly transforms the intricate beliefs in the once-devoted butcher's life - leading Aaron to question his relationships with his wife Rivka (Tinkerbell), children, community, and God.
  - Written by kirstein-1 / edited by TrivWhiz

  ---

  A married, Orthodox, Jerusalem butcher and Jewish father of four falls in love with his handsome, 22-year-old male apprentice, triggering the suspicions of his wife and the disapproval of his Orthodox community.
  - Written by TrivWhiz

• Also known as:Pecado da Carne (Brazil), Du sollst nicht lieben (Germany), Tu n'aimeras point (France), Matia orthanoihta (Greece - festival title), Tágra nyílt szemek (Hungary), Eynaim Pekukhot (Israel - Hebrew title, alternative spelling), Med åpne øyne (Norway), Oczy szeroko otwarte (Poland), De Olhos Bem Abertos(Portugal), Širom otvorenih očiju (Serbia), С широко открытыми глазами (Russia), Eyes Wide Open(USA - festival title), Eyes Wide Open (World-wide - English title),

• Rating: (4,489 votes)