15TH JEWISH MOTIFS INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL
LEONA
Watchable. The romantic story is engaging but frustrating at times. The second submersion scene is tricky: when you think it might be a suicide, she purifies herself in expectation of a new relationship. But the film clarifies why Jews form such tight-knit communities. They supported each other when they came (to Mexico in this case) 100 years ago, e.g. one would bankroll an enterprise, would hire his relatives and others etc.
The director is Jewish, the Mexican actress, Naian Gonzales Norvind, isn't. In turn, many Jewish characters are non-actors. The Mexican Jewish community is third after South Africa and New York and, according to the actress, there is a sense of complicity. Asked about sex scenes, she said they had been easy since she trusted the director and the crew. They were harder to watch at the festival than to act. She kind-of directed the director throughout the film. She's re-appropriating the purification ritual in the last scene = we take what predecessors give us and give it a new meaning. Ah, and she speaks excellent English - she's living in New York now.
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