‘Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem’ in Theaters Feb. 13

Israeli-French drama film “Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” opens in theaters nationwide on Feb. 13. This is the third installation to the trilogy following “To Take a Wife” and “7 Days,” which tells the tale of an Israeli woman trying to attain a divorce from her unwilling husband.

Written and directed by siblings Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz, the film was screened earned the Official Selection at the Cannes Film Festival 2014 in the Directors’ Fortnight Feature Competition, and it also screened in the Contemporary World Cinema section at the 2014 Toronto International Film Festival.

For 2015, the film was selected as the Israeli entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards; however, it was not nominated. Regardless, it was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 72nd Golden Globe Awards.

In addition to writing and directing, Ronit Elkabetz also stars in the title role as Viviane Amsalem. The film’s plot focuses on civil marriage and civil divorce, both acts that have no actual stand or meaning in Israel. Only Rabbis are allowed to perform a marriage or end it, but in any case, there has to be full consent from the husband, not the wife.

Viviane has spent three years of her life applying for a divorce, but her relentless husband, Elisha, will not agree to it. The film follows Viviane’s struggles, her determination and will to fight for her freedom, and how exactly judgment plays an even bigger role than can be imagined when people have very little control over their lives.

Simon Abkarian embodies the role of Elisha Amsalem. The rest of the cast includes Gabi Amrani as Haim, Dalia Beger as Donna Aboukassis, Shmil Ben Ari as Ya’akov Ben Harouch, Abraham Celektar as Shmuel Azoulay, Evelin Hagoel as Evelyn Ben Chouchan, Rami Danon as Rabbi Danino, Sasson Gabai as Rabbi Shimon, and Eli Gornstein as Head Rabbi Salmion.

When asked about how the trilogy came about initially, Shlomi responded,” 10 years ago, I was living in New York, Ronit in Paris, and she said she had an idea for three films, but we didn’t know exactly what was going to be in the stories. They have evolved from year to year. ‘To Take a Wife’ explored a woman’s internal dialogue with herself, ‘7 Days’ she is in the middle of her family and society, and in the new film [‘Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem’] we put this woman in front of the state and the law. It’s a very unique point for us, not only finishing this film but also closing the circle with our heroine, Viviane, who we’ve dealt with for the last 10 years.”

“‘Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem” opens in theaters Feb. 13.