KEEP NOT SILENT

A film by ILIL ALEXANDER
Produced in Association with CHANNEL 8 ISRAEL

Winner of the Israeli "Oscar" for Best Documentary 2004

| ISRAEL | 2004 | 52 minutes |

Can one live a normal life as a lesbian if deeply rooted in the orthodox or ultra-orthodox Jewish community? The answer is NO. The Holy Scripture forbids homosexuality. Lesbianism is unacceptable, non-negotiable and its likely consequence is excommunication.

This profoundly moving film tells the story of three women who are all considered “sinners” by their religion. One is single and fights openly while the two married women fight secretly for their right to love within the restraints of the Orthodox and Ultra-Orthodox communities. Unwilling to compromise themselves and unwilling to give up the wholeness of their sexual orientation, their religious convictions, or the warmth and support of their religious communities, the consequence of their choice ravages all three lives, daily.

The film ingeniously utilizes Internet web-cams, windows and curtains to document the individual path each woman has carved for herself, painfully caught between her love for her children, husband, community and God. The film transcends any religious orientation as their courageous fight for acceptance is an extraordinary battle for each of them seeking truth for themselves and a place within their world.