Eyes wide open - DVD Haim Tabakman

EYES WIDE OPEN is a gay love story in the heart of the ultra-Orthodox Jewish community in Jerusalem: Aaron (38), a respectable butcher in Jerusalem's ultra-Orthodox community, is married to Rivka (28) and dedicated father to 4 children. After his father's death, Aaron is looking for assistance in his business when the handsome and homeless Yeshiva (religious school) student Ezri (19) comes upon the butchershop by chance. Aaron decides to be Ezri's patron: he hires him, teaches him slaughtering, and houses Ezri in the shop's back room. Aaron invites Ezri in his home and introduces him to the community. When they go together to a remote 'Mikve' (a sacred ritual bath), an intimate moment occurs between them; from this moment onwards, Aaron knows no peace. Spending more and more time with Ezri, Aaron starts neglecting his family and community life until he is completely swept away in a whirlpool of love and lust for Ezri.
While Rivka suspects that something is wrong with Aaron, Rabbi Vaisben, (56) a family friend and the head of the community, tries to warn Aaron of the future to come if he won't expel Ezri. But Aaron refuses. Unwilling to tolerate Ezri's presence, the "Modesty Guards", a radical authority in the Ultra-Orthodox community, threaten Aaron. Under enormous pressure that Rivka and the community operate on him, Aaron comes to a decision to commit an irreversible act.

Filmirector: Haim Tabakman | Cast in film Eyes Wide Open: Zohar Shtrauss, Ran Danker | Duitsland/Frankrijk/Israël 2009 | DUTCH SUBTITLED | Genre: Gay - Drama - Jewish | Kijkwijzer: 12+  | Film distributor NL: Cineart Twin Pics | Awards: Grote Prijs Beste Film Filmfestival Gent 2009

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