To Take a Wife is a 2004 drama film

Drama film

A drama film is a film genre that depends mostly on in-depth development of realistic characters dealing with emotional themes. Dramatic themes such as alcoholism, drug addiction, infidelity, moral dilemmas, racial prejudice, religious intolerance, poverty, class divisions, violence against women...

. It is the directorial debut of veteran actress, Ronit Elkabetz

Ronit Elkabetz

Ronit Elkabetz is an Israeli actress and filmmaker. She works in both Israeli and French cinema. She has won three Ophir Awards and has received a total of seven nominations.- Biography :...

 who also stars in the film. The French-Israeli production premiered at the 61st Venice International Film Festival

61st Venice International Film Festival

The 61st Venice International Film Festival was held on September 1 - 11th, 2004.-Jury:* John Boorman * Wolfgang Becker * Mimmo Calopresti * Scarlett Johansson * Spike Lee * Dusan Makavejev...

 in September 2004.

Plot synopsis

Viviane (Elkabetz) is a beleaguered hairdresser and mother of four who feels tied down by her situation and her conservative husband as well as his live-in mother. Things take a turn when her former lover returns to live in Haifa

Haifa

Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...

.

Cast

• Ronit Elkabetz as Viviane
• Simon Abkarian as Eliahou
• Gilbert Melki as Albert
• Sulika Kadosh as Mémé
• Dalia Beger as Dona
• Kobi Regev as Eviatar
• Omer Moshkovitz as Gabrielle
• Yam Eitan as Lior
• Valérie Zarrouk as Yvette
• Carl Zrihen as Victor

Awards and nominations

Israeli Film Academy

• Ophir Award for Best Actress - Ronit Elkabetz (won)

Hamburg Film Festival

• Critics Award - Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz (won)

Mons International Festival of Love Films

• Best Actor - Simon Abkarian (won)
• Best Actress - Ronit Elkabetz (won)

Thessaloniki Film Festival

• Best Actor - Simon Abkarian (won)
• Golden Alexandar Award - Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz (nominated)

Venice Film Festival

Venice Film Festival

The Venice International Film Festival is the oldest international film festival in the world. Founded by Count Giuseppe Volpi in 1932 as the "Esposizione Internazionale d'Arte Cinematografica", the festival has since taken place every year in late August or early September on the island of the...

• Audience Award (Critics' Week) - Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz (won)
• Isvema Award - Ronit Elkabetz & Shlomi Elkabetz (won)