Northern Virginia Jewish Film Festival: Leona

Leona

Isaac Cherem | Drama | Mexico | Spanish | 95 min

The independently-minded artist Ariela finds herself torn between her Syrian-Jewish family and a forbidden love in this delicate, melancholic romance that unfolds in Mexico City. Pressured to find an appropriate suitor, serendipity leads to a passionate courtship with Ivan, a non-Jewish writer who shows her a world of possibilities beyond life in her cloistered Jewish neighborhood. As their feelings deepen, Ariela must weigh their unsanctioned relationship against rejection by her family and community, where religious values and traditions run deep. Bridging the divide between generations and cultures, writer-director Isaac Cherem deftly blends romantic comedy with a hopeful journey of self-discovery and female empowerment.

Best Movie: Gaudi Awards, the Catalan Film Academy

Audience Award: Festival de Luchon

Best Actress: Naian Gonzàlez Norvind (Ariela), Morelia International Film Festival

Generously sponsored by Dara and Joshua Greene and Ellen and Raphael Katkin

For questions or to request accommodations contact:

Sarah Berry