Sunday, December 6, 2009 - 4:00PM

Free popcorn - $5 contribution

At first, The Secrets is a sober exploration of limited female opportunities in the rigidly patriarchal, orthodox Jewish environment.

But after two French characters are introduced, the movie becomes an intriguing, occasionally discordant hybrid of austere Israeli and voluptuous French filmmaking traditions. Although the story remains in Israel, in spirit the movie migrates from the Middle East to France.

The Secrets plays as a melodrama, and much more: a film about religious and sexual intolerance, about reconciling opposed beliefs, about matching the fervor of feminism against religious patriarchy, and even in some ways a social comedy. It contains an object lesson for the whole genre involving romance and the battle of the generations: such films can actually be serious about something.

When faith meets feminism. This film is rated R.