By Cailin Acosta
LA JOLLA, California – End of Love Season shown Tuesday morning, Feb. 4, at the San Diego International Jewish Film Festival is a documentary film directed by Shai Gal in which he interviews his parents Geula and Arik.
Geula and Arik had been married for 55 years. At age 75 and 77, a contractor was hired to build a wall that divided the family house into two. Each of them now lives in their own half of the house.
The documentary asked how this happened. At first it was funny with Geula and Arik saying they live better apart and how each one is annoying. But as the story enfolded, a lack of communication was to blame.
Arik grew up on a very poor kibbutz where there was no emotional support from his parents. He reflected in his 70’s that he was not taught to love or show affection. It was not what he grew up with.
Arik met Geula in a neighboring kibbutz and they courted for a while. They got married and had three children together.
The siblings looked at old photos/videos together and said they must have been “photo-shopped” because those were not the memories they had experienced.
Shai asked if she received a kiss on her wedding day and Geula said no. Arik never kissed her. When Arik asked why he did not kiss Geula on the day of their wedding, he said he was not taught to do that.
At first the documentary was comical with dividing the house in half. Then it turned emotional. Arik was non-emotional and Geula suffered from no spousal support.
The three children discussed this lack of emotion and how they have gone above and beyond expressing affection to their own children.
Geula and Arik still live separately and feel alone in their old age.
Communication is important. I felt sorry for both of them.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.