'gett’ Review: Divorce, Israeli Style

The Trial of Viviane Amsalem, Viviane is merely seeking a divorce, but as the title suggests, she might as well be on trial for her life. Viviane (Ronit Elkabetz, electrifying) has been trying to get a divorce (a get) for three years, but her spouse, Elisa (Simon Abkarian, very good), simply won’t allow it, though he doesn’t really bother to explain why. Viviane gets about as much respect from the judges as a head of cattle, and her frustration builds as Elisa repeatedly skips his court appearances. The directors (Elkabetz and her brother, Shlomi) confine their film to basically one dingy room, making us feel the claustrophobic anguish of Viviane as she endures years of legal torture. Ronit Elkabetz commands the screen whether she’s quietly seething or lashing out at the judges and their pointed questions. David Lewis is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer.