The Women's Balcony(ישמח חתני)

Variety by Alissa Simon

Offering solid, middle-brow entertainment that borrows from Aristophanes’ “Lysistrata,” the film shows the relationships and tensions between different groups within Orthodox Judaism in Jerusalem, and provides a cautionary (and universally understandable) tale about religious fundamentalism.

San Francisco Chronicle by David Lewis

It’s impossible to resist a film that has such rich characters, and makes a complicated subject both enlightening and entertaining.

The Hollywood Reporter by Frank Scheck

Shlomit Nechama’s screenplay makes the proceedings compelling while mining gentle humor from the foibles of the mostly endearing characters, expertly played by the large ensemble.

The Film Stage by Jared Mobarak

What The Women’s Balcony provides is a universal theme. At one time or another we all must reconcile our idealism with morality. We must look past literal meanings to embrace subjective ones able to encompass a broader swath of the surrounding world.

Village Voice by Jordan Hoffman

This light and predictable movie, with its overwhelming box office success, still offers tremendous insight into day-to-day Israeli society.

Los Angeles Times by Kenneth Turan

This is an unapologetically warmhearted comedic drama, a fine example of commercial filmmaking grounded in a persuasive knowledge of human behavior.

The New York Times by Nicole Herrington

The entire cast is solid, but the women, especially Ms. Hagoel, bring depth to their comedic and dramatic turns.

Washington Post by Pat Padua

Although the film ultimately strikes a celebratory tone, the stark divisions it reveals offer an unsettling look at the state of public discourse.

Arizona Republic by Randy Cordova

Call it a battle-of-the-sexes comedy set in a devout Orthodox community in Jerusalem. But, in its own quiet and friendly way, the film goes deeper than that, looking at how conservative religious views can clash with more moderate ways.

RogerEbert.com by Sheila O'Malley

While the mood is that of a gentle and affectionate comedy, the film makes some extremely sharp points about fanaticism, sexism masked as holiness, and tolerance among the faithful.