A Price Above Rubies

Sonia is a distressed, curious woman who yearns for beauty and emotional connectedness beyond her arranged marriage. Her awakening clashes with her husband’s rigid religiosity, driving a search for autonomy. She experiments with desire, risks alienation, and ultimately asserts her own needs over strict obligation.

A self-serving jeweler who wields power in his marriage. He cultivates a morally ambiguous lifestyle and treats Sonia as a means to satisfy his desires, not as an equal partner. His control and lack of genuine care highlight the conflict between appearance and ethical responsibility.

A devout Hasidic husband who prizes religious study and order, often at the expense of emotional intimacy. He is capable of kindness but emotionally distant, enforcing traditional rules. He remains protective of his son while navigating his own marriage’s breakdown.

Sonia’s sister-in-law who embodies pragmatism and duty within the family. She becomes a gatekeeper in the custody crisis, upholding responsibility and tradition even as she witnesses Sonia’s turmoil. Her actions reflect the pressure of family loyalty in a tight-knit community.

Puerto Rican artist and jewellery designer who secretly pursues his craft while working in the jewellery quarter. He offers Sonia a space for creativity and a step toward independence, even as their relationship becomes complicated by power dynamics and desire. His artistic vision contrasts with the restrictive world around him.

The community’s spiritual guide whose authority frames Sonia’s crisis. He embodies tradition, yet Sonia’s questions push him to a moment of unexpected warmth, revealing the tension between faith and individual yearning. He represents the moral center around which family life revolves.

A compassionate street figure who helps Sonia in her moment of vulnerability, guiding her toward a new space and offering shelter. She anchors the film’s mythic cadence, invoking legends that frame Sonia’s longing for transformation.