TIFF: Israel’s ‘Valeria Is Getting Married’
Wednesday, September 14, 2022 at 5:16PM 
As one of the most-nominated countries yet to actually take home the Best International Feature Oscar, Israel tends to offer up some very interesting choices. Its top contenders for the Oscar submission are always initially up for the Ophir, Israel’s Academy Awards which will be held on September 18th this year. The winner becomes the country’s official submission. Among the Ophir nominees we’ve already seen Karaoke, which played at Tribeca, and the animated film Where Is Anne Frank, which bowed at Cannes last year. Now another Ophir nominee, Valeria is Getting Married, makes its North American premiere in Toronto.
For all the political content that Israeli films often contain, this one has less to do with Israelis and more to do with a disadvantaged immigrant population...
Christina (Lena Fraifeld), who comes from Ukraine, is married to Michael (Yaakov Zada Daniel) and living a seemingly happy and comfortable life. Her sister Valeria (Dasha Tvoronovich) arrives in Israel for an arranged marriage of her own, a deal set up by Michael. Valeria's intended Eitan (Avraham Shalom Levi) seems nothing but kind and thoughtful, learning a few Ukrainian phrases so that he doesn’t need to communicate with her only in English. While she is initally excited, she soon begins to panic as the reality of her situation sets in. This life, as several people tell her, may be much rosier that what awaits her back home, but that doesn’t mean that it’s the fate she wants.
Writer-director Michal Vink previously wrote the script to the Ophir-winning Working Woman, a powerful showcase of sexual harassment in the workplace, in addition to her directorial debut, Blush. She demonstrates yet again a keen ability to recognize every person in the room, particularly the women who are often talked over or for by the men. As much as this is Valeria’s story, it’s equally fascinating to watch Christina’s face in each scene that they share. She can remember what it was like to be in Valeria’s position, albeit without her own sister there to provide a source of comfort. She's done a remarkable job of assimilating, learning to speak Hebrew and finding a place for herself in what used to be a new home. And now she's watching it happen all over again.
Valeria is Getting Married features four very strong performances from actors playing people trapped in less-than-ideal circumstances. While Michael’s issues are less sympathetic because of the nature of what he does to make money and how he responds to the situation, Eitan does seem well-intentioned even if he is utilizing a service whose very existence is problematic. There is potent drama to be found in this involving, claustrophobic film, and anyone looking to the title for guidance should think of similarly serious marriage-themed projects like Rachel Getting Married or Margot at the Wedding that probe the darker side of what for many others may be the happiest day of their life. B+
Valeria is Getting Married is screening in the Contemporary World Cinema category at TIFF.
Reader Comments (1)
from the description i think i will like this. on my neverending list now of "things to see"