by Shane Conto, Staff Writer
Sometimes life serves you up opportunities that you need to take but are not the most ideal. When you boil the plot for Golden Voices down to the core, that is exactly what happens to our protagonists. Raya (Mariya Belkina) and Victor (Vladimir Friedman) are a Jewish Russian couple who escape after the fall of the Soviet Union and can come to Israel. The problem? This is a particularly tough time in history with attacks from Iraq. In Russia, they were renowned voiceover artists who dubbed all the best films the world had to offer. But life and their marriage are a lot rockier once they settle into their new home.
What is the story that writer-director Evgeny Ruman and co-writer Ziv Berkovich tell in this international gem? There are plenty of layers to the film, but let’s look at the three main areas that the narrative tackles. On the broader scale, it depicts the struggles of immigrants in Israel, but also in any control in general. A doctor in one country can arrive and work as a custodian in another. This humbling idea is poignant in Golden Voices, as Raya and Victor must eat their pride in the exploits for jobs. The racial and religious tensions are a specter which is always watching over the film, which is felt more prominently in the emotional climax.
But what about the journeys that Raya and Victor go on from an employment perspective? Raya goes way outside the box with her acceptance of a job as a phone sex operator. Hesitant and insecure to start, she begins to channel a whole new level of confidence and sexual expression. Her life up to this point was full of acknowledgement for her career and what was a stale and passionless marriage. This new job brings a spark back into her life. She wants more from her marriage now (sparking the central tension of the film). Belkina delivers a moving and genuine performance as we feel her struggles and celebrate her eventual liberation. There is one thread of her narrative that feels tacked on, which cuts the pace of the film down, but overall, her arc is engaging and moving.
How is Victor’s journey different, yet equally as satisfying? His arc is not quite as interesting as Raya’s, but you see him go from a bored and deeply rooted man to someone willing to throw caution to the wind for the woman he loves. The Victor at the start of the film would not recognize him by the end, which is embodied perfectly by Friedman. He stays closer to his previous life as a voiceover artist, but is forced to turn to a criminal venture to continue the work he desires. Where Raya is willing to venture into morally ambiguous territory, Victor must put aside the law. Where the film eventually brings them is powerful though.
Finally, what about the core relationship? Raya and Victor are just not happy. There is no passion or connection anymore between them. Victor is stuck in a terrible rut that he perpetuates through his same old meal that he devours obliviously at the table. Raya is just an invisible presence. Her new work helps her realize her value as a lover and a human being who wants more out of life. Victor is confronted with the possibility of losing something truly special that he no longer sees. Ruman can weave all these narratives together with great emotion and expert pacing.
Don’t you just love when you find yourself a cinematic gem? Hopefully that is the feeling you have now after reading these thoughts on this new drama. Emotional and a tad risqué, Golden Voices is a worthy cinematic journey to join. Great performances and a layered narrative shine thanks to this dynamic duo of performances and impressive direction.
Grade: A-
You can follow Shane Conto on Twitter, Instagram, and Letterboxd