Overview
A poignant exploration of love and faith in the face of societal norms.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Measured
- Intensity
- Strong
- Complexity
- Layered
- Violence
- None
- melancholic
- intimate
- sincere
- quiet evening
- arthouse film night
What critics said
Critics broadly praised the film as a thought-provoking, emotionally nuanced romantic drama elevated by gripping performances and Sebastián Lelio’s controlled direction.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Ronit and Esti's renewed attraction challenges the expectations of their Orthodox Jewish community and their existing marital and spiritual commitments.
The childhood friends' lesbian relationship was previously suppressed by communal rejection and reignites when Ronit returns.
The film is described as lit and shot in muted, subdued colors, matching its controlled and melancholy treatment of intimacy.
Ronit's return forces the characters to weigh Orthodox communal belonging against personal desire and self-determination.
Films like Disobedience, and why
Carol
shared forbidden love, religious community pressure, and emotionally restrained lgbtq+ romance
Portrait of a Lady on Fire
shared queer desire, social constraint, and intimate melancholic romantic drama
The World to Come
shared conflict between religious identity, sexuality, and personal freedom in a serious romantic drama
Movie Details
- Director
- Sebastián Lelio
- Release Date
- 2018-04-24
- Runtime
- 114 min
- Rating
- 6.9 / 10 (1304)
Cast
- Rachel Weisz
- Rachel McAdams
- Alessandro Nivola
- Allan Corduner
- Anton Lesser
- Nicholas Woodeson
- David Fleeshman
- Steve Furst
- Trevor Allan Davies
- Sophia Brown
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel
- Rent
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
- Buy
- Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Fandango At Home
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is Disobedience about?
- A woman’s return to the Orthodox Jewish community that rejected her reopens a forbidden love and tests the cost of choosing desire over belonging.
- What is Disobedience like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of Disobedience as measured, its intensity as strong and its storytelling as layered.
- Is Disobedience violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in Disobedience.
- What did critics think of Disobedience?
- Critics broadly praised the film as a thought-provoking, emotionally nuanced romantic drama elevated by gripping performances and Sebastián Lelio’s controlled direction.
- Which films are like Disobedience?
- Films with a similar feel include Carol, Portrait of a Lady on Fire, and The World to Come.
- How long is Disobedience?
- Disobedience runs 114 minutes.
- Where can I watch Disobedience?
- In United States, Disobedience streams on Cinemax Amazon Channel, Cinemax Apple TV channel.
