Israeli Film 'My One and Only' Blends Talmudic Mysticism with Identity-Switching Themes

The Israeli film "My One and Only" creatively combines two distinct traditions: mystical Talmudic legends about demons and reincarnation, and the cinematic motif of characters who mysteriously switch identities. Directed and written by David Tauber and produced by his wife Elia Tauber, the film opens with a fast-paced, focused narrative that gradually becomes more complex and diffuse.

The story centers on Talya Bartfeld's character, a newly religious woman who discovers shortly after her first childbirth that her husband, played by Nadav Antman-Ron, has been replaced by someone who looks like him but is fundamentally different. Seeking guidance, she turns to her rabbanit (Navit Sitbon), who doubts her sanity, while her husband, a rabbi, suggests she be more attentive. This leads to involvement from a former teacher (Zohar Strauss), who also appears to have changed.

Tauber, who wears a kippah himself, draws on his longstanding fascination with Talmudic mysticism and the cinematic obsession with identity swaps, referencing works by David Lynch, Paul Thomas Anderson, and Christopher Nolan. The film features multiple layers of identity changes, including actor substitutions reminiscent of "Mulholland Drive," a mother returning altered from an exorcism, and a grandfather changed by war or alien abduction, blending mystical and psychiatric interpretations.

While the film maintains high energy and inventive humor, it becomes somewhat overwhelmed by numerous subplots and excessive Talmudic explorations, including Aramaic narration, which occasionally disrupt the flow. The cinematography by Yosef Shalest starts strong but later drifts into mannerisms reminiscent of older styles. Despite these issues, the film remains an enjoyable and lively experience that stands out in Israeli cinema for its playful treatment of religious themes.

Ultimately, "My One and Only" can be seen as a story about the difficulty of adapting to changes in loved ones, though this interpretation is simpler than the film’s layered narrative. The film’s editing by Tauber and Miki Cohen Barlev is praised for its pace, and the overall production offers a fresh, entertaining take on complex spiritual and psychological questions.