Eyes Wide Open at Coral Gables Art Cinema

For showtimes and ticket prices, click here for our Eyes Wide Open event writeup.

Zohar Shtrauss in Eyes Wide Open. For showtimes and ticket prices, click here for our Eyes Wide Open event writeup.

Location Info

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Coral Gables Art Cinema

260 Aragon Ave.
Coral Gables, FL 33134

Category: Movie Theaters

Region: Coral Gables/South Miami

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Details

Friday, November 5, through Sunday, November 14, at Coral Gables Art Cinema, 260 Aragon Ave., Coral Gables; 786-385-9689; cinemateque.org. Starring Zohar Shtrauss, Ran Danker, Tinkerbell, and Tzahi Grad. Directed by Haim Tabakman. Based on the screenplay by Merav Doster. 90 minutes. Not rated.

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More About

• Haim Tabakman
• Zohar Strauss
• Jerusalem

The subject of gay Orthodox Jews isn't new to film, but it's typically the stuff of documentaries (2001's Trembling Before G-d, among others). So Haim Tabakman's feature directorial debut Eyes Wide Open deserves not only political points but also artistic ones: overused adjectives such as patient and understated are perfectly justified here. The simple story of devout family man and Jerusalem butcher Aaron (Zohar Shtrauss), who falls from grace via a love affair with hired hand Ezri (Ran Danker), Eyes abstains from all forms of shouting, dramatic excess, or third-act eruptions of tragic violence. There are a few missteps: Aaron's profession means a few too many symbolic shots of meat being cut, and Aaron and Ezri's exile from the community is too neatly paralleled by a parent-unapproved straight couple's similar shunning. Mostly, though, it wins with excellent performances: Shtrauss never overplays his character's internal tension, nor does Danker camp up his youthful virility. Cinematographer Alex Schneppat frames the film gorgeously, and Tabakman knows where the occasional showy effect can be inserted for emphasis. Not groundbreaking, but definitely a cut above.