La Petite Jerusalem

Mar 14, 2008 - 01:30 AM PST

I just finished this movie titled La Petite Jerusalem. I chose this film to conclude my Thursday night on the basis that it was about two Orthodox Jewish women. Since my main interest is religion.

It was a story of three crucial themes of life. Faith, Family, and Sexuality. Laura the main character has this love for philosophy, she rejects sentimental notions about love and favors an emotionless approach to sex. Matilde is devoutly religious and clings to the teachings of the Torah in her relationship with her husband. She thinks about the themes of the movies in complete opposite ways than her sister. Yet, they both believe that they should restrain their sexuality but for opposite purposes. Laura because she feels it is the only way to completely connect with thought. And Matilde because she believe the Torah teaches that women are not allowed to explore sexual pleasure.

Faith is so important in human life. You must believe in something, anything, to survive. If it is not a God it is morals that you live by. Laura believes devoutly in thought and philosophy. You must believe in something.

Thats what I fear the most, is that I know I believe in something. I know that I set boundaries for myself and that I live by morals, and that I have faith. I just don't know my faith, faith is so important to me that I feel I need to belong to a religion. Why do I strive to be a part of a religion so badly? I don't understand.