The Therapy - Jewish Film Festival
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24/10/2022 until 27/11/2022
The Therapy delves into the hidden lives of two Jewish men, although they could be anyone who is restricted by societal or religious pressure.
The documentary details conversion therapy for two vastly different men. Lev, a 54-year-old divorced Orthodox Jew, who attends therapy hoping to be remarried to a woman. He attends one-on-one therapy sessions and group therapy, believing his unwanted same-sex attractions will disappear.
At the same time, Ben, a 23-year-old social work student, seven years into conversion therapy, starts having doubts. In the Jewish Orthodox world, where he grew up, he was taught homosexuality is a fault that one can "cure". However, when at university he was surprised to discover conversion therapy is considered harmful and dangerous. Ben sets out to discover the truth about conversion therapy and learns that the way out may be harder than he thought.
This film succeeds in so many areas. It questions the viability of therapy for everyone and exposes the idea that one can ‘addicted’ to the therapist or therapy, a notion I knew nothing about.
It also questions the sexual restrictions imposed by the Jewish Orthodox church (or in fact, many churches) on their faithful and the misery and mental damage caused by these restrictions.
Some of the scenes are heartrending, especially when Lev is facing his same sex attraction and the scene when Ben is confronted with his ‘addiction’ and is initially unable to face it.
Shot in colour, the documentary alternates between interviews and actual footage of sessions. The sessions with Lev are hard to watch as he choses to deny his sexuality and face the torture this places on his mind.
In Sam’s case one can only pity his misplaced loyalty to his therapist and his naivety at not being able to see what is happening to him.
While the film has a successful conclusion, being the acceptance of a bill to prevent conversion therapy in Israel, this is quickly dashed in the credits.
The Therapy is a film that will leave you thinking and maybe doubting some of your long-held beliefs.
Reviewed by Barry Hill