Eyes Wide Open

Eyes Wide Open

Year: 2010

Runtime: 90 min

Language: Hebrew

Director: Haim Tabakman

Drama

Within Jerusalem's insular ultra-orthodox community, a devout butcher named Aaron finds himself captivated by Ezri, a charismatic student. He abandons his family and deeply held traditions, consumed by a passionate and forbidden love. As their secret affair progresses, the immense pressure of societal expectations and the burden of guilt threaten to overwhelm them, forcing a reckoning with the painful consequences of their choices and the potential destruction of their worlds.

Warning: spoilers below!

Haven’t seen Eyes Wide Open yet? This summary contains major spoilers. Bookmark the page, watch the movie, and come back for the full breakdown. If you're ready, scroll on and relive the story!

Timeline & Setting – Eyes Wide Open (2010)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Eyes Wide Open (2010). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Contemporary

The film is set in contemporary times, a period marked by both progression and resistance within traditional communities. It captures the struggles faced by individuals as they navigate personal identities in the shadow of societal norms.

Location

Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a city known for its rich historical and religious significance, as well as its cultural diversity. It plays a crucial role in Jewish, Christian, and Muslim traditions. The city’s atmosphere is intensified by its dark, rainy winters, reflecting the emotional turmoil faced by its inhabitants.

🌧️ Rainy 🏙️ Urban

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:34

Main Characters – Eyes Wide Open (2010)

Meet the key characters of Eyes Wide Open (2010), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Aaron Fleishman (Zohar Shtrauss)

Aaron is a father of four who inherits his family's butcher shop, embodying the weight of traditional expectations. His character arc reflects a profound internal conflict as he navigates his desires versus his responsibilities, ultimately revealing his deep yearning for connection and authenticity.

🧔 Father 💔 Conflict

Ezri (Ran Danker)

Ezri is a charismatic young Yeshiva student whose arrival disrupts Aaron's ordered life. He represents youth and rebellion against societal norms, drawing Aaron into a world of passion and risk as their bond deepens amid adversity.

👦 Youth 🔥 Passion

Rabbi Vaisben (Tzahi Grad)

Rabbi Vaisben is an authoritative figure within the community, representing the oppressive societal pressures faced by individuals like Aaron. His confrontation with Aaron emphasizes the rigid moral codes and the violent repercussions of deviating from communal expectations.

👨‍⚖️ Authority ⚔️ Confrontation

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:34

Major Themes – Eyes Wide Open (2010)

Explore the central themes of Eyes Wide Open (2010), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

❤️‍🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Love

The theme of love is central to the narrative, exploring the complexities of forbidden attraction within a strict community. Aaron's relationship with Ezri serves as a poignant representation of love that defies societal expectations, showcasing both its beauty and the pain it can cause.

⚖️ Social Justice

The film delves into social justice by highlighting the harsh realities faced by those who challenge societal norms. It raises questions about acceptance, discrimination, and the pervasive control exerted by the Orthodox community over its members.

⛈️ Isolation

Isolation is a recurring theme, as seen through Aaron's alienation from his community due to his growing feelings for Ezri. The dark, rainy backdrop symbolizes the internal struggle and loneliness faced by individuals who are unable to fit into their prescribed social roles.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 19:34

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Explore Movie Threads

Discover curated groups of movies connected by mood, themes, and story style. Browse collections built around emotion, atmosphere, and narrative focus to easily find films that match what you feel like watching right now.

Movies about forbidden love like Eyes Wide Open

Passionate affairs that risk everything in the face of rigid social rules.If you were captivated by the intense, high-stakes romance in Eyes Wide Open, this thread features movies with similar forbidden love stories. Discover dramas where characters defy rigid societal norms, religious doctrines, or cultural taboos for a passionate connection, leading to tense and emotionally heavy consequences.

forbidden lovetensepassionateoppressiveclaustrophobictormentedanxiousdesperate

Narrative Summary

The narrative follows characters who find a powerful, often unexpected, love that directly contradicts the social or religious laws of their world. Their secret affair is the central plot driver, creating a constant state of tension as they navigate the danger of exposure. The story typically builds towards an inevitable, often tragic, confrontation with the society they are challenging.

Why These Movies?

Movies in this thread share a core theme of love as a dangerous act of defiance. They create a similar viewing experience defined by high emotional weight, tense atmospheres, and a melancholic tone, as the characters' personal happiness is pitted against the suffocating weight of conformity and tradition.

Slow burn character tragedies like Eyes Wide Open

Deliberate, atmospheric stories of personal collapse under internal and external pressures.For viewers who appreciated the deliberate pacing and heavy emotional journey of Eyes Wide Open, this collection features similar slow burn character tragedies. These dramas focus on a protagonist's internal conflict and moral dilemmas, unfolding at a methodical pace within a tense, oppressive atmosphere towards a ultimately sad ending.

slow burnmelancholictormentedpsychologicaloppressivetragicanxiousdesperate

Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern is a gradual, inevitable descent. A seemingly stable protagonist is confronted with a truth about themselves or a desire that conflicts with their life. The story meticulously charts their growing anguish and the compounding pressures, both internal (guilt, doubt) and external (society, family). There is no swift resolution, only a painful, drawn-out reckoning that culminates in significant personal loss.

Why These Movies?

These films are grouped by their shared approach to storytelling: a slow pacing that mirrors a character's protracted suffering, a consistently high level of dramatic tension, a melancholic and oppressive mood, and a narrative commitment to exploring the painful, consequential end of a personal struggle.

Unlock the Full Story of Eyes Wide Open

Don't stop at just watching — explore Eyes Wide Open in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what Eyes Wide Open is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

Eyes Wide Open Summary

Read a complete plot summary of Eyes Wide Open, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

Eyes Wide Open Summary

Eyes Wide Open Timeline

Track the full timeline of Eyes Wide Open with every major event arranged chronologically. Perfect for decoding non-linear storytelling, flashbacks, or parallel narratives with a clear scene-by-scene breakdown.

Eyes Wide Open Timeline

Eyes Wide Open Spoiler-Free Summary

Get a quick, spoiler-free overview of Eyes Wide Open that covers the main plot points and key details without revealing any major twists or spoilers. Perfect for those who want to know what to expect before diving in.

Eyes Wide Open Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Eyes Wide Open

Visit What's After the Movie to explore more about Eyes Wide Open: box office results, cast and crew info, production details, post-credit scenes, and external links — all in one place for movie fans and researchers.

More About Eyes Wide Open

Similar Movies to Eyes Wide Open

Discover movies like Eyes Wide Open that share similar genres, themes, and storytelling elements. Whether you’re drawn to the atmosphere, character arcs, or plot structure, these curated recommendations will help you explore more films you’ll love.