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UNKEPT SECRETS

By Dalit KIMOR

FIRST HAND FILMS - as SALES All rights, World

Documentary - Completed 2018

What happens to a mother of eight when she finds out that the admired rabbi, teacher of her three sons, has been sexually abusing all of them for years?

- Year of production
- 2018
- Genres
- Documentary, Social issues, Jewish
- Countries
- ISRAEL
- Languages
- HEBREW
- Duration
- 52 mn
- Director(s)
- Dalit KIMOR
- Producer(s)
- Dalit KIMOR
- Synopsis
- Ornit, a 42-year-old ultra-Orthodox woman leading a quiet life, becomes a hero against her will when she has to face her sons’ abuse. Together, they sued the offender and went through grueling legal proceedings.
  
  At the same time, the family had to cope with another blow – the entire Orthodox community defends the Rabbi, and Ornit and her boys were called "moisers" (informers), a huge insult. The victim, airing the dirty laundry in public, faces shunning.
  
  Genendy, the second hero of the film, is a pre-school teacher. She is married and a mother of three. In a few months, her son will celebrate his Bar Mitzva and she wants to invite members of her extended family (11 siblings and her mother), who live in an ultra-Orthodox community in the US. But this seemingly trivial act is very complicated and complex, since Genendy was shunned by her family for the secrets she didn’t keep. She spoke out loud about being raped by her father, a famous rabbi, when she was a little girl. Since 18 years she hasn't spoken with anyone from her family.
  
  Both Ornit and Genendy are assisted by Shana, a 29-year-old ultra-Orthodox woman, working in a global Jewish organization aiming to create a change regarding sexual offences in the community, and she binds the two stories.
  
  The heroes in the film are a source of empowerment for other Jewish Orthodox in the battle against pedophilia and sexual offenses within the community. They will no longer remain silent.