"Disobedience" Film Analysis Essay

Introduction

Disobedience is a movie that is based on a 2006 novel by Naomi Alderman that has the same name directed by Sebastian Lelio. The film follows the story of an English photographer, Ronit, who returns to her ultraconservative Jewish community after learning about her father's death. Ronit had fled from this community years ago, due to the attraction for her female teenage friend, Esti. On returning home, Ronit is given shelter by Esti who is married by Dovid, who is also her childhood friend. The old passion between these females reignites, they explore the authority of the religion and the question of whether the support of a cohesive and limited community is valuable than the freedom of loving whoever one choose emerges.

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Most lesbian movies end up with a tragedy; however, this film shows a different ending where Ronit and Esti accept to part peacefully. Nonetheless, the story also leaves the audience in suspense at one point when Esti finds out she is pregnant with Dovid's child, and one might suggest a tragic ending for these lovers. Sound enhances the story of the movie, for instance, in a scene at Ronit's childhood home, where she and Esti lastly admit the elephant in the room, Ronit turns on the radio, and a song by The Cure's, 'Love song,' is playing. The lyrics of the song are "whenever I am alone, you/ you make me feel home again," while she is already at home again.

The story shows that one cannot be sexually independent when tied to religious authority. The conflict in this story is sexuality and religious regulations. The dispute is resolved by acceptance of Esti to stay with her husband after realizing she is already pregnant, and Ronit returns to New York. The characters in this film do not change; they remain the same from the beginning to the end. The speech of Ronit's father at the opening of the movie before collapsing and dying indicates powerful belief about mortality, religiousness, free will, and nature, which sets as an opening of the film. This dialogue addresses almost all the issues in the movie and shows the image of a religious leader who portrays the image of the entire believers. Sound is used to create tension and suggests the next course of action to the audience; it is also used in the transition of scenes. Lack of music makes a film lack the ability to express emotions, and also makes the movie 'flat.'

When the story joins Esti's and Ronit's stories, the movie ascends. The camera moves behind its suitable distance and its ability to glimpse from around the corners and shoulders, asserting itself in the love section. In this scene, the lighting is slightly reduced to indicate a sad moment as the Esti opens up to her friend. Camera techniques and light help to enhance emotions in this scene. Editing helps to remove possible errors that could have been made during video shooting. The rhythm of the film is defined by the continuity of the story, which starts by the death of Rev, Ronit's father, to return of Ronit to England which onsets the rising action when she meets with Esti. The film is sequenced into feelings of loss, heartbreaks, honesty, and joy. The fall of action starts when Esti disappears from her husband's home and where she returns after Ronit cancels her flight to help Dovid look for her.

Conclusion

The message of the story, which is the conflict of sexuality with religion, is clearly outlined through the help of production techniques such as lighting, camera angles and distance, and sound which delivers the message in an emotional appeal. The film indicates that although religion has its authority, it limits some people the happiness they need in life since it becomes hard to make their own decisions. One must choose to be either religious or have the freedom of love.

Works Cited

Lelio, S. Disobedience. Youtube video. Uploaded by Bleecker Sreet, 1 Feb 2018. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HEVonh8bjC0.