Rama Burshtein’s film, Fill the Void, is rife with paradox: It tells the story of a chassidic family — using mainly irreligious actors — and has won international acclaim. Family First goes behind the scenes to meet the players — and discover the power.
Take 1
Behind the scenes with director Rama Burshtein
At a wedding chassidic scriptwriter and filmmaker Rama Burshtein met a beautiful young woman wearing nice jewelry and a gold watch. Rama learned that the woman had recently gotten engaged — to her late sister’s widower. How could a young girl do such a thing? thought Rama. Over the next few months she connected with other women who had made a similar decision to wed their sister’s widowers. These wives all shared a strong sense of duty to family. They spoke about responsibility and self-sacrifice about how they learned to connect — as a spouse — to the man who was formerly a brother-in-law.
By the end of Rama’s research her original question was no longer a question — she understood how a woman could make such a choice in marriage. She was also left with the germ of an idea for a new movie.
The story line: An 18-year-old chassidic girl named Shira is about to get engaged to a promising man her age when her 28-year-old sister dies during childbirth. The drama unfolds when after Shira’s engagement falls through the widowed husband decides he’s going to leave the country with the family’s only grandchild. In an attempt to keep the baby close by Shira’s mother proposes a match between Shira and her widowed son-in-law.
Fill the Void scored seven prizes at the 2012 Ophir Awards inHaifa including best screenplay best director and best film. The movie also earned international acclaim winning numerous awards at international film festivals. It sold out at theaters inNew York Toronto London andVenice; and it became secularIsrael’s choice for the Oscar awards inHollywood.
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