Presented in partnership with ANU Ally Network

Disobedience is the acclaimed new film from director Sebastián Lelio, who also directed last semester’s Academy Award-winning A Fantastic Woman. Based on the debut novel of the same name by Naomi Alderman, the film tells the story of 32-year-old Ronit Krushka (Weisz), who had been banished from her Orthodox Jewish community in London after her teenage romance with female school friend Esti (McAdams) was discovered. Following the death of her estranged father, who had been a powerful rabbi within the community, Ronit leaves her life in New York to return to her childhood home.

Upon discovering that her cousin Dovid (Nivola) is not only her father’s successor but is now married to Esti, Ronit must confront her past, her family, the community that exiled her, and the complicated emotions that still bind her to them.

Featuring strong performances by Rachel Weisz and Rachel McAdams, Disobedience is a thought-provoking exploration of love, faith, sexuality and freedom that gives viewers a revealing insight into a closed community.