Naomi, the devout daughter of a much-revered Orthodox rabbi, yearns for a spiritual life. When her mother dies, she postpones her nuptials to her father’s star pupil to study the Torah. Not exactly pious, chain-smoking Michelle is sent by her father from Lyon, France, to study but more to prepare herself for a suitable marriage within the faith.
Ania Bukstein and Michal Shtamler have fine frisson playing strong-willed opposites drawn to each other once they’re assigned to deliver food to a mysterious woman. Over time, the woman with the volatile past becomes their emotional awakener and their spiritual project. Led by Naomi, Michelle and two more classmates undertake a tikun — a cleansing rite — for her.
A terminal illness gives Anouk (played by French icon Fanny Ardant) leeway to call forth Camille-like gestures of pain and fading, torment and ecstasy. At times, she is overly passionate. But then, Anouk is a marked woman.
Israeli director Avi Nesher lets the story (inspired by co-writer Hadar Galron’s Orthodox upbringing) unfold with studied patience.
The women’s seminary in Safed, Israel, is thick with palpable, even feverish, yearning.
“The Secrets” belongs in a mini-tradition of involving films that limn the border where spiritual and sexual awakenings collide and entwine. Naomi and Michelle join characters from Patricia Rozema’s “When Night Is Falling” (1995) and Bruce Beresford’s “The Getting of Wisdom” (1977), who fight to understand God’s will and their same-sex pining.
Sturdy and sweet, Adir Miller brings Y-chromosome energy to the tale as Yanki, a klezmer musician who fancies Michelle.
“The Secrets”
Directed by Avi Nesher; written by Nesher and Hadar Galron; photography by Michel Abramowicz; starring Ania Bukstein, Michal Shtamler, Fanny Ardant, Adir Miller. In French and Hebrew with English subtitles. Not rated. 127 minutes. Opens today at the Starz FilmCenter.
