Remembering Ronit Elkabetz (1964–2016)

Known worldwide for her acclaimed acting performances (Or: My Treasure, Late Marriage, The Band’s Visit, and many more), Ronit Elkabetz was also a talented writer and director who collaborated with her brother Shlomi on a trilogy of unforgettable films: To Take a Wife, 7 Days, and Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem. While these films can be viewed as a trilogy, each film stands on its own as an intense and masterful work of dramatic fiction.

To Take a Wife

In her codirecting and cowriting debut, Ronit Elkabetz gives a brilliant performance as Viviane Amsalem, a hairdresser doing everything she can to maintain her individuality in a household dominated by her conservative husband, Elisha (Simon Abkarian of Casino Royale) and his live-in mother. When Viviane’s former lover reappears, an already untenable situation implodes. If Edward Albee were Jewish, this is the kind of family he would write about, with its practiced aptitude for mental torture. This acclaimed, multi-award–winning film received a standing ovation at its Venice premiere.