Shiva (2008 film)

Shiva is a 2008 Israeli drama film, also known by its English title as 7 Days, Seven Days and The Seven Days by Ronit Elkabetz and Shlomi Elkabetz. It is the second feature to be directed by the siblings following the unhappy marriage of Viviane Amsalem following 2004's To Take a Wife. In 2014 it was succeeded by the final film in the trilogy Gett: The Trial of Viviane Amsalem.

Plot
For seven days a large family of Moroccan descent observes the Jewish mourning ritual of shiva when a brother dies. Living together again reveals many tensions and conflicts between family members. Amid the tensions, the Gulf War rages in the background.

Cast

 * Ronit Elkabetz as Vivianne
 * Albert Lluz as Meir
 * Yael Abecassis as Lili
 * Simon Abkarian as Eliau
 * Hana Laszlo as Ita
 * Moshe Ivgy as Haim
 * Keren Mor as Ilana
 * Alon Aboutboul as Itamar

Reception
The film received mixed reviews. Variety compared it unfavourably to To Take a Wife while at the same time praising the acting as "flawless". The Jerusalem Post wondered "why they ha[d] been asked to spend two hours listening to the angry resentments of a disintegrating family, even if they admire the cast and co-directors' skill..."