The Women’s Balcony (Ismach Hatani) (2017)
87%RT Audience Score: 77%
Awards & Nominations: 1 win & 6 nominations
With rich characters and a thoughtful approach to timely themes, The Women’s Balcony tackles complicated subjects with intelligence, compassion, and wit
The Women’s Balcony is a heartwarming and hilarious film that tackles serious issues with a light touch. The characters are so lovable and relatable that you can’t help but root for them. The resolution may be a bit too neat, but it’s hard not to feel uplifted by the end. Plus, the scene with the umbrellas in the rain is just pure cinematic magic. Overall, this movie is a must-see for anyone who wants to laugh, cry, and feel good about humanity.
Production Company(ies)
Universal Pictures, Studio Canal, Working Title Films,
Distributor
NA
Release Type
Theatrical, Theatrical (Limited)
Filming Location(s)
Jerusalem, Israel
MPAA / Certificate
Year of Release
2017
-
Color:Color
-
Sound mix:Dolby
-
Aspect ratio:2.35 : 1
-
Runtime:NA
-
Language(s):Hebrew
-
Country of origin:Israel
-
Release date:Release Date (Streaming): Sep 19, 2017
Genre(s)
Comedy/Drama
Keyword(s)
The Women’s Balcony, Comedy, Drama, Hebrew, Emil Ben-Shimon, Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler, Shlomit Nehama, Aviv Alush, Yafit Asulin, Orna Banai, Evelin Hagoel, Yigal Naor, Herzl Tobey, $1.2M, MPAA rating, reviewed by Marjorie Baumgarten, Brad Wheeler, Peter Keough, Pat Padua, David Lewis, Andrea Gronvall, Katie Hogan, Toba Singer, Alison Gillmor, Danielle Solzman, Margot Harrison, Diane Carson, starring Aviv Alush as Rabbi David, Yafit Asulin as Yaffa, Orna Banai as Tikva, Evelin Hagoel as Ettie, Yigal Naor as Zion, Herzl Tobey as Nissan, directed by Emil Ben-Shimon, written by Shlomit Nehama, produced by Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler, box office performance, comedy, drama, Jewish culture, women’s rights, religious traditions, community, Jerusalem, compassion, wit
Worldwide gross: $1,272,517
Worldwide gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,534,956
Worldwide gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,490
Worldwide tickets sold (est.): 167,389
US/Canada gross: $1,200,885
US/Canada gross (inflation-adjusted): $1,448,551
US/Canada gross ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,107
US/Canada opening weekend: $16,620
US/Canada opening weekend (inflation-adjusted): $20,048
US/Canada opening weekend ranking (inflation-adjusted): 2,514
Budget and Earnings Details
Production budget (est.): NA
Production budget (inflation-adjusted): NA
Production budget ranking: NA
Marketing and distribution budget (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
Box office net earnings to date (inflation-adjusted est.): NA
ROI to date (est.): NA
ROI ranking: NA
Yafit Asulin – Yaffa
Orna Banai – Tikva
Evelin Hagoel – Ettie
Yigal Naor – Zion
Herzl Tobey – Nissan
Director(s)
Emil Ben-Shimon
Writer(s)
Shlomit Nehama
Producer(s)
Osnat Handelsman-Keren, Talia Kleinhendler
Film Festivals
Toronto
Awards & Nominations
1 win & 6 nominations
Academy Awards
All Critics (47) | Top Critics (14) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (2)
Even though some of the religious and traditional aspects of the film may not travel well, its spirit is universal.
July 20, 2017 | Rating: 3/5
Marjorie Baumgarten
Austin Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
The Women’s Balcony overlooks nothing when it comes to addressing faith, segregation and sexism in a peppery, entertaining way.
July 14, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
Brad Wheeler
Globe and Mail
TOP CRITIC
Subtly handled by director Emil Ben-Shimon and screenwriter Shlomit Nehama and rendered heartfelt and compelling by an outstanding cast.
July 6, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
Peter Keough
Boston Globe
TOP CRITIC
In the end, the solution offered by “The Women’s Balcony” to end the rancor feels unearned.
June 15, 2017 | Rating: 2.5/4
Pat Padua
Washington Post
TOP CRITIC
It’s impossible to resist a film that has such rich characters, and makes a complicated subject both enlightening and entertaining.
June 14, 2017 | Rating: 3/4
David Lewis
San Francisco Chronicle
TOP CRITIC
With an eye for artful detail, director Emil Ben-Shimon orchestrates a resolution both plausible and jubilant.
June 13, 2017
Andrea Gronvall
Chicago Reader
TOP CRITIC
It’s a brilliant uplifting film with a soul and really does show the importance of respect.
February 4, 2020
Katie Hogan
VultureHound
Their vibrant determination finds expression in a silent sequence shot from above, as each leaves a building one at a time, opening a different-colored umbrella in the rain, resolute.
December 19, 2017
Toba Singer
culturevulture.net
The film has crafted an essentially benevolent comic universe where everyone is goodhearted – or at least, they are who they are, and there’s not much to do about it.
November 17, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Alison Gillmor
Winnipeg Free Press
The Women’s Balcony is a feel-good, crowd-pleasing comedy that depicts what happens when extremism and traditional values collide.
November 11, 2017
Danielle Solzman
Solzy at the Movies
The Women’s Balcony resolves its central conflict a bit too quickly and neatly, but the theme of battle for the soul of a community resonates – at least with many American critics, who have praised the movie’s “universal” themes.
August 31, 2017 | Rating: 4/5
Margot Harrison
Seven Days
The superb ensemble of veteran Israeli actors, singers and comedians gives bravura performances.
August 28, 2017
Diane Carson
KDHX (St. Louis)…
Plot
In The Women’s Balcony, a group of women in Jerusalem come together to preserve their traditions and unite their neighborhood when a charismatic rabbi enters their lives.
Trivia
Goofs / Tidbits
Nothing to add here about The Women’s Balcony.
Emil-Ben-Shimon.jpg
