Gett, the Divorce Trial of Viviane Amsalem has been selected to open World Cinema Amsterdam anniversary edition (14 - 24 Aug). The film is directed by brother and sister Shlomi and Ronit Elkabetz. Kajsa Ollongren, the new Arts & Culture alderman, will officially inaugurate our 5th edition on August the 14th.
"Expertly written, brilliantly acted" are Variety's notes on this powerful courtroom drama. It is the third episode of a triptic about the marital troubles of Viviane Amsalem directed by Shlomi and Ronit Elkabetz's. In part one, To Take a Wife, Viviane becomes increasingly alienated from her distant husband, but she does not leave him. In 7 Days (opening film at Cannes 2008), the second part, she lives separately from her husband, being resented by everyone in the family. In the third part of their trilogy, Gett, Viviane tries to formally end the relationship with her husband, but that seems impossible. He must agree to a divorce, but he continues to refuse. Viviane sees no other option than to have the matter referred to a religious court; for it is the rabbis who decide on marrige and divorce. She will have to convince these not women-friendly and shrewd judges to grant her the 'gett', a handwritten document that validates divorce.
Gett, the Divorce Trial of Viviane Amsalem will be screened in Rialto and de Balie during World Cinema Amsterdam. The film will be released in The Netherlands by distribution company Cinemien on September the 4th.
Ticket sales for the fifth edition of World Cinema Amsterdam start on Thursday, July 31.