Movie Review: Tikkun

Tikkun (2015) is an ephemeral journey into the life of a religious Jew. Shot in black and white, the movie’s shots are picturesque, serious, and dark. The movie begins in a ritual slaughterhouse, with the killing of a cow. Black blood splatters from its neck.

The protagonist, Haim Aaron, played by Aharon Traitel, is faced with an experience that gives him quite literally a second lease on life. The community is first amazed by his revival, and then deeply suspicious of its consequences on his formerly dutiful religious life.

Haim Aaron begins to defy his strict religious observances. When the movie begins, he observes a 24 hour fast after dropping his phylacteries. His religious community members urge his to drink, as his concentration is shot and he accidentally cuts his finger. Lying on the floor, they urge him to drink, but he refuses.

This scene is in stark contrast to later in the movie, after his revival. A religious leader throws him out of the yeshiva, and now his hands are masted to the chair as he refuses to move.

A religious leader tells him: “There are elevated souls that can stray to places that appear to be unholy. But in that place a soul can reach such heights that cannot be reached from even the holiest places… on the contrary, when a sinner finds himself in this lowly place, God forbid, he swiftly rekindles his faith, and believes that everything is in His grace and glory. Then his worship will bring him great fulfillment that even the righteous cannot achieve.“

He finishes his statement: “However, a great abyss lies below, threatening to drag him down. Should he forget his faith, God forbid, and then all hope for him is lost.”

Tikkun explores this quote and the viewers watch as Haim Aaron teeters between faith and the great abyss that lies below.