From Orthodox to Queer
SEX – Jewish Positions in Film. Part of the program of events accompanying the exhibition Sex: Jewish Positions
In cooperation with the Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg (JFBB), we are showing three contemporary films from Israel that look at very different ideas and practices around sexuality, reproduction, marriage and family.
Sun, 23 Jun 2024, 2.30 pm
Where
W. M. Blumenthal Academy,
Klaus Mangold Auditorium
Fromet-und-Moses-Mendelssohn-Platz 1, 10969 Berlin
(Opposite the Museum)
Programme
2.30 pm | WEDDING NIGHT Israel | Documentary film | 2023 | 60 min | directed by Rachel Elizur | Produktion: Avigail Sperber |
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IN SERVICE OF THE KING Israel | Short movie | 2023 | 15 min | directed by Brachi Haisherik |
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4.30 pm | TWO Israel | Drama | 2020 | 72 min | directed by Astar Elkayam |
Wedding Night
2.30 pm, documentary, IL 2023, 60 min. directed by Rachel Elizur
Original version with English subtitles
In the ultra-Orthodox community men are educated not to look at women or think about them and a girl practices modesty in clothing, actions and thoughts. Marriage requires complete strangers to suddenly encounter their partner for the first time in an intimate situation with only rudimentary information. According to Jewish law, they are required at that first intimate encounter to consummate the marriage. What was considered sinful transforms to the Holy of Holies. The film draws a portrait of a society and a place: women and men speak bravely about their hidden feelings during matchmaking, the engagement period, the guidance of brides and grooms, the canopy, the special "Yihud" room, until the morning after marriage.
In Service of the King
Short film, IL 2023, 15 min. directed by Brachi Haisherik
Original version with English subtitles
In an ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community, Minkush, a young wife and new mother, discovers a way to circumvent the law prohibiting sexual relations until six months after childbirth. She must convince her observant husband to choose her path over the community's law and his conscience in this dramatic story about love versus religious loyalty.
TWO
4.30 pm, Drama, IL 2020, 72 min. directed by Astar Elkayam
Original language version with German subtitles
An Israeli drama about a lesbian couple who hope to start a family. Bar (Agam Schuster), a chef, and Omer (Mor Polanuer), a dancer, love each other and want to take the next step – having a baby and starting a family. To achieve this, they want to use the “services” of a sperm bank. Initially optimistic that they will quickly find the right sperm donor and that fertilization will go well, they face one failure after another. They finally decide to consider Omer’s ex-lover Yoni (Gil Desiano). How will he react and is he even suited as a potential donor?
In cooperation with the Jewish Film Festival Berlin Brandenburg (JFBB)
Sex: Jewish Positions: Features & Programme
- Exhibition Webpage
- Sex: Jewish Positions – 17 May to 6 Oct 2024
- Accompanying Events
- Performance and public guided tours with the exhibition’s artists – 17 May 2024
- The Song of Songs – Between Innocence and Audacity. Lecture by Ilana Pardes – 4 Jun 2024
- From Orthodox to Queer. SEX – Jewish Positions in Film – 23 Jun 2024
- Publications
- Sex. Jüdische Positionen – Catalog accompanying the exhibition, German edition, 2024
- Sex: Jewish Positions – Catalog accompanying the exhibition, English edition, 2024
- Digital Content
- Listen to the exhibition’s soundtrack – on Spotify
- Jewish Places – Find information about Jewish sites related to the exhibition on our interactive map
- Tours & Workshops
- Public tour – in German
- Public tour – in Hebrew
- Bookable tours – for groups
- Duty and Pleasure – Workshop for adults
- Hey you! Flirting without Sexism – Workshop for students with drama-pedagogical elements on the exhibition