Or (Keren Yedaya, France/Israel). 95 min. Subtitled. May 14, 9:30 pm. Bloor. Rating: NNNN NNNN
Cronenberg’s Crash. Van Sant’s Elephant – Cannes is known for embracing films that get under an audience’s skin. This 2004 Cannes Caméra d’Or winner fits the bill and then some.
Keren Yedaya ‘s unflinching camera is as relentless as her characters. Aging hooker Ruthie (always wonderful Ronit Elkabetz ) may be the mother, but she acts like a child, dependent on daughter Or, her “treasure” (a haunting Dana Ivgi), to get her food, a job and medication. Or has her own problems: her lack of self-esteem propels her to solicit male attention, but for love, not money.
Is she doomed to become her mother? Can Ruthie break free from her own disappointing path? In Yedaya’s cinema verité approach, long shots and nudity abound, all the better to expose the naked truth.
