Late Marriage (2001)

88% of critics liked it
(64 reviews)
70% of users liked it
(980 ratings)

A couple sets out to find the perfect bride for their son, whether their son likes it or not, in this Israeli comedy. Zaza (Lior Louie Ashkenazi) is a graduate student in his early thirties who has finally found the woman of his dreams -- Judith (Ronit Elkabetz), a Moroccan immigrant with a… More A couple sets out to find the perfect bride for their son, whether their son likes it or not, in this Israeli comedy. Zaza (Lior Louie Ashkenazi) is a graduate student in his early thirties who has finally found the woman of his dreams -- Judith (Ronit Elkabetz), a Moroccan immigrant with a daughter, Madonna (Sapir Kugman), from a previous marriage. Zaza and Judith have similar interests, a great personal rapport, a keen understanding of one another's feelings, and excellent sexual chemistry, but for Zaza there's one little problem -- his parents. His mother Lili (Lili Kosashvili) and father Yasha (Moni Moshonov) are bound and determined to marry their son to a nice Georgian Jewish girl (who is, of course, a virgin), and they not only disapprove of Zaza's relationship with Judith, they insist on fixing him up on dates as if he isn't in a committed relationship; when that fails to make an impression on Zaza, Lili and Yasha use emotional blackmail against their son, and Lili even goes so far as to confront Judith and insist she stop seeing her son. Late Marriage was shown at the 2001 Cannes Film Festival as part of the Un Certain Regard series; Lili Kosashvili, who makes her screen debut playing Lili, is actually the mother of the film's writer/director, Dover Kosashvili. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

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Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 42 min.
Directed By: Dover Koshashvili
Written By: Dover Koshashvili, Dover Kosashvili
Genres: Drama, Art House & International, Comedy

In Theaters: May 17, 2002 Limited
On DVD: Feb 18, 2003
Studio: Magnolia

Critic Reviews

Susan Stark, Detroit News
A romantic comedy enriched by a sharp eye for manners and mores.
Jay Boyar, Orlando Sentinel
A terrific, thoroughly engrossing motion picture.
Joe Baltake, Sacramento Bee
This terrific film is fueled by several scenes that are shocking -- but not for the reasons you might think. The shocks here come not from the unexpected sensationalism of them but from their bracing humanity and spontaneous, eye-opening rawness.
John Petrakis, Chicago Tribune
One of those welcome visitors, a movie that turns out to be much more than we expected.
Desson Thomson, Washington Post
A canny (and profoundly sexy) movie.
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
A closely observed, somewhat funny, ultimately very sad movie.
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
A highlight of Israeli cinema of the past decade, Kosashvili's impressive feature debut is an extremely powerful film is a tale of family tyranny and intergenerational conflict within a Georgian-Jewish community.
Nick Schager, Slant Magazine
A serio-comic look at marriage that treats issues of love, passion and familial obligations and expectations as more than just excuses for moronic sitcom hijinks.
Robert Roten, Laramie Movie Scope
Unfunny comedy with a lot of static set ups, not much camera movement, and most of the scenes take place indoors in formal settings with motionless characters.
Karina Montgomery, Cinerina
I am sorry that I was unable to get the full brunt of the comedy.
Robert W. Butler, Kansas City Star
This film feels truly lived in, and guides us without ever feeling manipulative or calculating. The performances are naturalistic and utterly convincing.
James Kendrick, Q Network Film Desk
a blistering (and often funny) critique of conservative family traditionalism intruding on the realm of romantic love
Anita Schmaltz, Metro Times (Detroit, MI)
'...young, savvy cinematic sensibility framed by the limitations of a conservative, unrelenting culture.'

Read all 13 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

jay n

Interesting look at ancient traditions in a modern culture and the damage they inflict on all involved. Lior Ashkenazi is excellent.
Leo L

An interesting movie! Set upon family honor and traditions, this follows the forbidden love between Zaza and Judith. Zaza comes from a close-knit family that wants nothing but the best for him to marry and begin a family of his own. Zaza abides the wishes of his family, and sets out… More
An interesting movie! Set upon family honor and traditions, this follows the forbidden love between Zaza and Judith. Zaza comes from a close-knit family that wants nothing but the best for him to marry and begin a family of his own. Zaza abides the wishes of his family, and sets out to find a nice, respectable young woman to marry but earnestly tries to search for an ideal mate in each and every one. Despite the family choices, Zaza wants to start a life with Judith and her young daughter but the family heavily disagrees. Judith's former marriage and her age is one of several factors that causes a hindrance in their relationship. Great cast- Lior Ashkenzai, Aya Steinovitz, Ronit Elkabetz, and Moni Moshonov. Worth seeing!
Sunil J

'My Big Fat Greek Wedding' with a heartbreaking twist.
FanGirl B

This film takes an unblinking look at the power of custom, culture and family and the effects they can have on an individuals life and happiness. Intense and graphic (sex sences) so if that sort of thing makes you uncomfortable you may want to skip this one.