The Secrets

The Secrets has a certain kind of exotic appeal. Any movie that deals with Jewish mystical rituals as well as women going against the grain in a male dominated society already has an uphill climb. Suffice it to say that those who stick with The Secrets will be rewarded before the movies end, but it's not the kind of reward that gets you into heaven.
The Secrets (Ha-Sodot) is a 2007 Israeli film that centers on two women going through an awakening in their lives. One, Noemi (Ania Bukstein) has just lost her mother and her rabbi father wants her to wed immediatly. Noemi asks to attend a women's seminary in the city of Safed (birthplace of the Kabala). Here she meets Michelle (Michal Shtamler) who rebels at rules like smoking in the room, and brings a European sensibility along with her tall, dark and beautiful nature. Noemi herself has mesmerizing eyes to go with her enchanting natural beauty.
The duo bond when they start helping an older French woman with a terminal disease (Fanny Ardant who adds another dimension to the film as Anouk) who seems to be stuck in the elevated city. There's also a cool dude who while very orthodox has the ability to charm with his klezmer music along with some other members of the school who seem like stereotypic characters (the heavy set chick, the patient teacher). Soon Noemi and Michelle are helping Anouk go through a series of religious cleansing rituals, some of them banned to women. One scene where they bathe nude in holy waters sets the tone for a salacious plot twist.
The Secrets has lofty ideals and for the most part achieves what it wants. It's a tale of women rebelling against the status quo and the sharp production values (particularly photography and set design) lend credence to areas where the plot launches into melodrama. That Noemi and Michelle become lovers isn't a surprise. Even though the story is set in the present, there are no tell tale signs (like cultural artifacts or cars or dress) that indicate the story couldn't be taking place a decade ago.