Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem (2009)

  Since no-fault divorce is back in the news, let's revisit exactly why it's a great idea that should never be rescinded by looking at what happens when you don't have it.

Viviane (Ronit Elkabetz) wants a divorce from Elisha (Simon Abkarian) after 20 years of marriage.  But they live in Israel which means their court is a tribunal of rabbis and the entire thing hinges on Elisha giving permission.  Viviane has no grounds with which to compel Elisha.  He doesn't beat her or sleep around.  He simply quietly terrorizes her with his silences and his petty malice.  She just wants to be free and even though he doesn't want her, he can't stand the thought of her being with someone else.

This would actually make a good double-feature with Possession.   Like seeing one divorce through the perspectives of the husband and the wife.  Of course, as a woman, this movie is infuriating to the point of physical illness.  I started wondering if the song "Goodbye Earl" did numbers over there or what.  Because you know what you get when you force women into marriages they can't leave?  Dead women. Suicides, murder, and intimate parter violence all go down when women have legal alternatives.  The only reason you don't care about those stats is if you don't think of women as people, just things to be owned and used.

This is streaming on Kanopy.  Vote in your local elections.  It matters.