TREMBLING BEFORE G-D

Trembling Before G-d sheds some light not only on a little known and understood sect of religion, Orthodox and Hasidic Judaism, but takes a smaller slice of that group, and introduces us to gay and lesbian members of that religion who are struggling for acceptance.

Men and women are interviewed, often in silhouette, with their voices and identities hidden or altered, for fear of being exposed and further ostracized by their religious brothers and sisters. Homosexuality is not accepted by their religion, and they face being completely shunned by their religious community if they are outed. Some of those that do talk openly on camera are living in self-imposed exile from their community rather than being rejected for the truth.

This film reminded me somewhat in tone of the film Scout's Honor, about homosexual Boy Scouts, in that these people are being rejected by the community that they are most devoted to, that they feel the most affinity with. A lesbian couple, devoted both to each other and to their Orthodox belief, sadly wonder if they will get to see each other in the afterlife, despite being devout practioners of their religion. Another man returns 20 years later to the rabbi that he most trusts, only to find out that his rabbi still can't help him. The man wants to change, but after 20 years of therapy, he feels he has failed. An older man faces parental rejection from his father in his 90s, who still won't accept him, even after his son reaches to him out in his final years.

Unlike many documentaries of disenfranchised groups, Trembling Before G-d didn't seem to offer much hope. The whole film struck me as so very sad. You didn't get much sense that things will change for these people, fighting against traditions that go back centuries and centuries. They will have to chose one life or the other, but cannot have both... leaving them spiritually adrift.