In Israel, A Husband and Rabbis Decide Divorce

Sibling directors and writers Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz talk about their movie “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem.” In Israel there is neither civil marriage nor civil divorce; only Orthodox rabbis can legalize a marriage or its dissolution, which is only possible with the husband’s full consent. “Gett” is about an Israeli woman seeking to finalize her divorce (“gett”), and who finds herself put on trial by her country’s religious marriage laws. Viviane Amsalem (played by Ronit) has been applying for a divorce for three years, but her religiously devout husband Elisha continually refuses. The film is Israel’s official selection for the 87th Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, and a Golden Globe nominee. The film opens February 13, 2015 at Lincoln Plaza Cinema.