Tahara (2002) User Reviews

Pretty Tough To Take

[kiga-1 · 2/10 · 18 September 2005]

I saw this at the Israeli film festival in New York City during the summer of 2003.

BE ADVISED: this movie is about female circumcision and it is horrifying.

It takes place in the Middle East, amongst some Bedouins and a naive young lady falls in with a culture for which she just isn't prepared.

I will leave it at that, but I will say that I have a strong stomach yet I still had to go to the lobby for one scene (I came back.) This scene (and another) overwhelms the movie which is too bad because there is some pretty scenery, a nice 60s feel, and one or two decent love scenes (very explicit.) The movie is nice and short but, unfortunately, the filmmakers had a point to make and you are left with nothing afterward except a sick feeling in your stomach and you'll cringe when you think about it for the few days afterward.

You've been warned !!

Made one point..

[call_me_zara · 3/10 · 29 November 2006]

The film had explicit sex scenes and nudity which I think somewhat over-shadowed the topic and point the director set out to show. First, I commend the writer and director for showing FGM as a cultural act rather than a religious act. To tell you the truth, when I realized the film was made in Israel with a Israeli director and a 99% Israeli cast, I thought that the film would, as many media outlets have done, falsely place the blame of FGM on Islamic societies, but they didn't. FGM is a problem in many areas because it is a cultural tradition committed by tribal Muslims, Jews and Christians as was stated. Only in the bonus section during an interview with the Israeli actress who portrays lead actress Layla do I even sense an anti-Arab sentiment. Overall, I think it was an okay film but just when you seemed to be involved in the story it would go off on a tangent.

Brave, important film

[rogermanning995 · 8/10 · 25 September 2008]

Some of the negative reviewers here seem to have too narrow a life experience to appreciate what they are being presented with. After all, not so many people get to experience the sexually charged environment being depicted. The nudity and love scenes in this movie are an essential element in the telling of this story. As for the distressingly controversial part of the story, I wasn't aware of that prior to watching. I was strongly disturbed and affected. I was also extremely grateful to the filmmaker and cast for presenting this extremely important, tragic issue to the world is so artful a manner. The desert scenery is beautiful. The lead female is excellent. Much of the supporting cast seem somewhat amateurish, but work very well in this production.

What a stupid idea for a movie.

[limatreno · 1/10 · 27 November 2005]

The film makers of God's Sandbox were obviously trying to make a ridiculous statement here. I won't spoil the story for anyone because you truly need to witness the stupidity of this movie for yourself to understand what I saw. (Save your money and wait for it to show up in the $1.99 rental section of you local video store.) This movie revolves around one horribly graphic scene. I'm still trying to figure out why people would invest money into a film like this. Yes I was shocked, yes I almost threw up. My question is, what was I or any of the other three people in the audience with me supposed to get out of this film? I guess this is the typical attempt for an aspiring writer or director to create a vehicle so they can attempt to go from film festival to film festival showing people how caring they are about atrocities around the world. When the whole idea is to create something that is shocking enough to attract attention. Why not do a movie about decapitating children? That's shocking right? Obviosly there isn't an aspiring film maker out there as tasteless as this one that can raise the money for that script.

Master Work--Don't Miss Seeing It.

[TedMichaelMor · 8/10 · 14 August 2009]

Meital Dohan's beauty linked with the striking beauty of the desert and her lover's physical beauty are the core of this exceptionally erotic film, directed by accomplished Israeli director Doron Eran, who explores cultural ritual clitoridectomy. I find it impossible to imagine an American film dealing with themes such as these without resorting to exploitation and titillation. This film deals with human rights violations in the context of cultural clash and tragedy without moralizing or excuse. Hulu ought to offer this sort of film but never does.

The intense eroticism underscores the tragic loss Ms. Dohan's character endures. As an Israeli production with an all Israeli cast, the movie, nonetheless, treats Arab culture with respect, tolerance, and understanding.

The film haunts the viewer. American movie makers need to review this film to see at how to make a real film.

I now own a copy of this great movie.