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My Father My Lord

Play trailer Poster for My Father My Lord 2008 1h 14m Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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94% Tomatometer 36 Reviews 76% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
The leader of a small ultra-orthodox community in Tel Aviv, Rabbi Abraham Edelman (Assi Dayan) is absolutely inflexible about doctrine. It's a trait that has won him no shortage of respect from his peers, but it's beginning to cause conflict with his son (Ilan Griff). Little Menahem has a growing fascination with the natural world, and simply can't understand why his father must shoo a mother bird from her nest, or insist that dogs have no souls.
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My Father My Lord

My Father My Lord

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Critics Consensus

This beautiful Israeli film is both a moving family drama and a potent examination of the trials of faith.

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Critics Reviews

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Wally Hammond Time Out Jan 5, 2010
4/5
You could say this film is at once a secular fable on a religious dilemma and an almost religious parable about an all-too-human tragedy. Go to Full Review Sukhdev Sandhu Daily Telegraph (UK) Jan 5, 2010
4/5
Helped by gorgeous photography and sound design, it's a work of considerable force that bears comparison with Terence Davies's early films. Go to Full Review Jeff Shannon Seattle Times Oct 3, 2008
3/4
An impressive debut by 37-year-old Israeli writer-director David Volach, "My Father My Lord" squeezes more humanity into 72 minutes than most Hollywood movies can muster in two hours or more. Go to Full Review Edward Porter Sunday Times (UK) Jan 5, 2010
3/5
This approach - together with Volach's tenderness in describing Menahem's sense of wonder - makes the film's middle scenes beguiling. Go to Full Review Philip French Observer (UK) Jan 5, 2010
All three actors are excellent. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Dec 14, 2011 Every frame is lovingly crafted in this finely acted and scored film, which drives hard and true to its excruciating conclusion. I loved this film because it gave a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Ultra-Religious, and into the mentality in which every move in their life is governed by the Torah. This lifestyle does not encourage free thinking, and the "believers" look at every daily decision in terms of Jewish law. This is a life observed in small detail. The cumulative effect, however, is devastating. I only wish every fundamentalist in the world can be made to see it. See more Jul 17, 2010 Jewish drama about absurdity and futility of faith. Loved it! See more Jan 17, 2010 Very moving and relevant to today. Never overplayed. Confident and intelligent writing and direction. Well worth seeing. See more Jan 11, 2010 Short and powerful, showing the conflict between family and religion. See more Mike M @RT59071784 Nov 23, 2009 Low-key but admirably complex drama - a quiet eyeopener from writer-director Volach... It may be a hard sell in the marketplace, I suspect, as it leaves us - like the rabbi - with no easy answers, but it's a scholarly, respectful work, taking particular care to delineate between faith and its various (mis)applications. See more Sep 12, 2009 Plaintive violins married with hysterically wheedling (contra-?) religious bullpucky. There's some nice Israeli verisimilitude, but when the story isn't splashing its themes at you (Orthodoxy! Oedipal anxiety! Mild oppression! The crush of grief!) it's just falling into some thoughtless, tepid bath in them. See more Read all reviews
My Father My Lord

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Cast & Crew

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David Volach

Director

Assi Dayan

Rabbi Abraham Eidelmann

Ilan Griff

Menahem Eidelmann

Sharon Hacohen-Bar

Esther Eidelmann

David Volach

Writer

Eyal Shiray

Producer

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My Father My Lord

My Father My Lord (2007) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis The leader of a small ultra-orthodox community in Tel Aviv, Rabbi Abraham Edelman (Assi Dayan) is absolutely inflexible about doctrine. It's a trait that has won him no shortage of respect from his peers, but it's beginning to cause conflict with his son (Ilan Griff). Little Menahem has a growing fascination with the natural world, and simply can't understand why his father must shoo a mother bird from her nest, or insist that dogs have no souls.
Director
David Volach
Producer
Eyal Shiray
Screenwriter
David Volach
Distributor
Kino International
Genre
Drama
Original Language
Hebrew
Release Date (Theaters)
Jul 11, 2008, Limited
Release Date (Streaming)
Jun 20, 2012
Box Office (Gross USA)
$108.7K
Runtime
1h 14m
Sound Mix
Dolby Digital
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