Summaries

Synopsis

In a Jewish Orthodox Synagogue in Hendon, the frail Rav Krushka (Anton Lesser)collapses whilst giving a sermon. As funeral rites commence in London, the Rabbi's exileddaughter Ronit Khruska (Rachel Weisz) is living her life as a photographer inManhattan. During a photo shoot she is told by the Brooklyn Synagogue of her father'sdeath; wounded by the news and in a vulnerable state, she gets drunk in a local bar andsleeps with an undetermined man.

Ronit flies home to London where she feels out of place in the Orthodox Jewish communityshe left behind. She is greeted at the home of Dovid Kuperman (Alessandro Nivola), ason figure to the Rav, who is taken aback by the unexpected return of his childhood friend.Her welcome inside the home is hostile from those in the community gathering in the Rav'shonour. Her aunt Fruma Hartog (Bernice Stegers) greets her more openly, though theair is frosty between Ronit and her uncle Moshe Hartog (Allan Corduner). Ronit is bothupset and angry that she was not informed of her father's illness and that her father'sobituary claims he was childless.

Despite tension surrounding Ronit's sudden departure in the past, Dovid invites her to staywith him and his wife. Ronit is shocked to discover that he is married to their former bestfriend Esti (Rachel McAdams), now a teacher at an Orthodox girls' school. It isuncomfortable between the two women; a complicated past is clearly hanging over them.The next day Ronit visits her father's grave. After further prayers at their home, Dovid, Estiand Ronit go to a dinner at the Hartog house with Rabbi Goldfarb (Nicholas Woodeson)and Rebbetzin Goldfarb (Liza Sadovy). Ronit tries to talk to her Uncle about selling herfather's house, but he tells her now is not the right time for such a topic. Conversation turnsto Ronit's successful career as a photographer and Rebbetzin questions why she goes byRonnie Curtis after seeing one of her photos in a magazine. Esti, quietly joining in theconversation, states that women change their names all the time when they get married andlose their own history. Everyone is silently shocked at Esti's controversial comment.

Rebbetzin continues questioning Ronit's life in New York and asks why she is still notmarried, as it's the way it should be for a woman. Ronit disagrees, calling marriage aninstitutional obligation and if she had stayed in the community and been married off, shewould have killed herself. Everyone is shocked by her outburst and Ronit, blaming her jetlag, excuses herself to go home. Dovid, upon Esti's request, leaves to walk her home. Ronitbreaks down to Dovid, hoping her father knew she truly loved him. Dovid, struggling againstthe rules of his religion, tries to comfort his childhood friend without touching her.

Ronit visits her uncle Hartog at his wigmaker's shop to continue the discussion of selling herfather's house, but is informed by Hartog that the Rav left the house and all its contents tothe Synagogue. She leaves and soon runs into Esti outside a supermarket. They visit theRav's house together - a rundown mess full of medical equipment, it is not so much thehouse that Ronit wanted, but for her father to acknowledge her in his will. Esti admits thatshe does not want Ronit to leave again; past feelings are reignited and they kiss, at firsttimidly as Ronit pulls back, and then passionately. Ronit retreats once more, confused abouther feelings.

They leave the house and Esti confesses that she had called the Brooklyn Synagogue to letRonit know of her father's death. She tells Ronit that she married Dovid, a man she doesn'tlove romantically but respects, as she was mentally unwell following Ronit's suddendeparture and married their best friend upon the Rav's suggestion. As they relax into eachother's company and kiss again, they are interrupted by Hinda (Clara Francis) and husbandLev (Mark Stobbart) and are unsure how much they saw. Esti rushes home, tense; shealmost embraces Dovid but their marriage still lacks the passion she has with Ronit.At school, Esti is summoned to see the headmistress Mrs. Shapiro (Caroline Gruber)where Hinda and Lev are waiting to confront her. Allegations about Esti and Ronit alsoplague Dovid when he is asked by the Synagogue to take on the Rav's work.

Ronit waits for Esti at the school gates, where Esti tells her about the formal complaint Hindaand Lev have submitted against her. Upon Ronit's suggestion, they escape the close knitcommunity and head into central London for the day. Ronit and Esti continue to be conflictedin their attraction to one other; Esti feels guilty and is trying to lead a good life in line with herfaith, but cannot help but desire her former lover. They go to a hotel where they make love,completely at ease and euphoric in each other's company. They talk about how Ronit'sfather first learnt of their relationship all those years ago.

Esti returns home late at night, where Dovid is waiting in their bedroom. He tries to get closeto her but his yearning to be intimate with his wife is rebuked once again by a confused Esti.Nauseous the next day, Esti begins to wonder if she is pregnant. Dovid confronts Esti aboutMrs Shapiro's accusations and she admits what happened between them. Dovid's angeralmost turns violent as he releases his frustration at his wife's inability to embrace their lifetogether. Ronit, having overheard the argument, tries to persuade Esti to leave her husband,but Esti struggles to come to a decision. They both try to convince each other, andthemselves, they are happy in their lives.

Unable to cope with the current events, Dovid seeks refuge in a quiet Synagogue library.The atmosphere is tense when he returns home for dinner with Ronit and Esti. When Ronitannounces that she has booked a flight back to New York that night, Dovid seems relievedand quietly asked his wife what she plans on doing now. Ronit and Esti share a difficultgoodbye, both unable to share their true feelings. Esti accuses Ronit of taking the easyoption by leaving, Ronit storms out the house and Esti slams the door behind her; bothheartbroken at the recent events.

In the middle of the night, Esti leaves the house whilst Dovid is asleep and returns to thehotel room with a pregnancy test. Waking up at the airport the next morning, Ronit receivesa panicked phone call from Dovid saying Esti is missing. After trying to calm him down, shecontinues to check into her flight, but later decides to leave and help Dovid in the search forher.

Returning home after failing in their search for Esti, Ronit is still angry that Dovid didn't tellher of her father's illness. Esti returns from hiding and, having heard everything, announcesher pregnancy. Dovid is joyous, believing a child will solve all their marital problems, but Estiinstead asks for freedom for her and her child. She was born into the community and wantsto give her child the freedom of choice she never had. Dovid is speechless and Esti feelsguilty for crushing her husband's dreams of becoming a father.

Ronit and Esti attend the Hesped at the Synagogue, intimidated by the judgemental looksthey receive. Esti tries to make peace with Dovid, but he ignores her. Moved by the temple'ssacred atmosphere, Ronit asks Esti to be with her in New York. They clutch hands as Dovidtakes to the podium, where he struggles to deliver the official speech on the Rav's passing.Seeing Ronit in the crowd, he instead contemplates the notion of freedom and choice, atopic that the Rav spoke about in his final sermon, and grants Esti the autonomy she hasrequested. Dovid declines the Synagogue position and abruptly leaves the Hesped. Outside,overcome with emotion Esti and Dovid hug. Ronit watches on in the distance until Dovidextends an arm and the three friends have a long heartfelt hug together.

The next morning, Ronit prepares to leave for the airport. She bids a quiet farewell to Dovidoutside his bedroom and goes to see Esti, who has slept on the sofa. They say goodbye; itseems Esti has decided against joining Ronit in New York. As Ronit's taxi pulls away downthe street, Esti runs after her and the pair share a long goodbye kiss, promising to remain incontact. An emotional Ronit visits her father's grave one last time and takes a photo,achieving a sense of closure over his passing and the recent events.