Late Marriage (Hebrew: חתונה מאוחרת, Hatuna Meuheret) is a 2001 Israeli film directed by Dover Kosashvili.
The film centers on Zaza (Lior Ashkenazi, in his breakthrough role[1]), the 31-year-old child of tradition-minded Georgian Jewish immigrants who are anxiously trying to arrange a marriage for him.
Zaza is a 31-year-old Georgian-Israeli PhD student at Tel Aviv University whose family is trying to arrange a marriage for him within the Georgian community.
Judith has refused because Zaza's reaction when his family invaded her apartment made her realize that "he loves you more than me," and she has decided the relationship is bad for all concerned.
Zaza returns to the reception hall and gives a long, awkward, repetitive speech, while his wife, Lea, stands uncomfortably by his side.
[4] After that screening, it premiered at the 18th Annual Israel Film Festival, where it was reviewed by John Petrakis of the Chicago Tribune, who wrote: "One of those welcome visitors, a movie that turns out to be much more than we expected".
[7] Ed Gonzalez, a Slant critic, wrote, "It so boldly confronts stringent cultural traditions it's a minor miracle it never becomes glib".
[11] Edward Guthmann of the San Francisco Chronicle praised the lead roles portraying Ashkenazi and Elkabetz groups.
[12] According to Roger Ebert of Chicago Sun-Times, Late Marriage "is not a one-level film, and one of its most revealing moments shows the strong-minded mother expressing respect for the equally iron-willed Judith".