‘My One and Only’ is a muddled look at Jewish mysticism – review

The Israeli film 'My One and Only' attempts to blend Jewish mysticism and Torah study with a mysterious, Lynchian style, but ultimately results in a muddled viewing experience. The central plot follows Shira (Talya Bartfeld Diskin), a young mother who believes her husband, Noam (Nadav Antman Ron), has been replaced by an imposter. This leads her to seek guidance from her rabbi's wife, Miri (Navit Sitbon), and eventually a psychiatrist-turned-mystic (Zohar Strauss). The film also weaves in subplots involving Gaia (Inbal Raz), a secular woman exploring Jewish texts, and Heli (Ella Armony), a waitress caring for her possibly possessed mother. A confusing plot device involves the actresses playing Heli and Gaia switching roles, which the reviewer found ineffective. Despite some well-acted scenes and intriguing ideas, the film struggles with its script and fails to deliver a cohesive narrative, leaving the reviewer to suggest that an interview with the filmmakers about their ideas might be more engaging than the movie itself.