Disobedience (2017)

Director: Sebastian Lelio
Stars: Rachel Weisz, Rachel McAdams, Alessandro Nivola
Runtime: 114 minutes

Synopsis: When her father suddenly dies, Ronit returns to her family that shunned her in the past for being attracted to another woman, only to find out that she is now married to a childhood friend of hers. 

Performances: 9/10
Screenplay: 8/10
Special Effects: N.A.
Costumes/Makeup: 8/10
Editing: 7/10
Cinematography: 8/10
Score/Soundtrack: 7/10

Verdict: Sebastian Lelio directed the Oscar-winning "A Fantastic Woman" earlier in 2017. So I was naturally intrigued by his follow up film about a tale of forbidden love. And boy did it not disappoint. The movie is adapted from a book written by Rebecca Lenkiewicz (who also wrote "Ida") and stars Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, and Alessandro Nivola. The three leads were perfect in their roles, bringing to life three extremely believable characters whose emotions were transferred through the screen. Another thing I loved about the characters, especially the one played by Nivola, is the fact that none of them were vilified or presented as antagonists. Each one of them was the victim of a social anomaly that in some way ruined their lives. But the main reason this movie worked so well and had the emotional it had on me was Lelio. His decision to use a dark color palette resulted in a depressing mood that perfectly highlighted the heartbreaking story told. His use of a slightly shaky camera also gave the film a much realistic feel, necessary for it to have the impact it had on its audience. The lack of music for the major part of the drama made me feel as if I was a character witnessing the events as they were unfolding. My only complaint about "Disobedience" was the fact that it could've been about 10 minutes shorter. But apart from that, it's a near-perfect story told and acted beautifully that you won't forget any time soon.   

Final Grade: 8/10

To see how "Disobedience" compares to other films released in 2017, click here.