Near strangers suddenly have to share physical intimacy -- without knowing what it is, or how it is supposed to work.

The director, herself an ultra-orthodox Jewish woman, masterfully combines frank interviews with archival material and re-enactments. In ultra-orthodox Jewish society, the first sexual contact between a man and a woman takes place on the wedding night.

In retrospect, many find this experience stressful, quite a few as traumatic. Some even describe it as rape. The film tackles a taboo subject in ultra-orthodox Jewish society and allows viewers to delve into this otherwise closed world.

Rachel Elitzur spent two years interviewing women and men of different ages and from different social circles, who speak surprisingly frankly about sexuality, love, and the relationship between the sexes. They unpack their contradictory feelings, as they talk about the hopes and fears they had, as brides and grooms.

The documentary accompanies women and men on their emotional journey: the coming together as a couple, the engagement period, the marriage counseling by the rabbi, the wedding day and finally the wedding night.

The film combines private archival material with interviews and careful re-enactments. To protect the interviewees, their identities are not revealed. 

 

Broadcasting Hours: 

DW English

SAT 27.12.2025 – 11:03 UTC
SAT 27.12.2025 – 22:03 UTC
SUN 28.12.2025 – 05:03 UTC

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