Broken Wings follows members of a bereaved Israeli family coming to grips with the death of a loved one. Although painful to watch, this heart-wrenching drama illustrates the importance of relating to others after a tragedy. In fact, it's almost a case study in what not to do during the grieving process. Writer/director Nir Bergman brilliantly covers such issues as guilt, depression, apathy, blame and withdrawal by presenting characters who evoke our sympathy -- even as their debilitating attitudes seem to get the best of them. 

Because of her father's unexpected death, 17-year-old Maya (Mava Maron) has been forced to take on many of her mother's (Orly Zilberschatz-Banai) duties. Mom spent the first three months after her husband's death in bed. "I had to drag her to the shower," Maya explains. When the movie opens, it's nine months after the tragic event -- and Dafna, the mother, has gone back to her job as a midwife. But she's still sleeping a lot and relying way too much on Maya, who must forego her singing/songwriting dreams as a result of Dafna's demands.

Maya's two brothers and little sister aren't coping well either. The oldest brother Yair (Nitai Gvirtz) -- who's dropped out of school -- opts to wear a mouse costume and hand out flyers in the subway instead. Younger brother Ido (Daniel Magon) spends most of his time filming his own jumps into an empty swimming pool. And six-year-old Bahr (Eliana Magon) feels all alone as she begins kindergarten. It takes another crisis to shock everyone into realizing how much they need each other.         
          
According to filmmaker Bergman, Broken Wings is about holding on to what you have. "Personally, I have experienced a few moments of enlightenment in my life -- moments when you learn something new about yourself and experience that understanding with your mind, heart and maybe even your body," he explains, adding that he wanted to give his characters one of these moments.

A strong ensemble cast helps Bergman achieve his goal. However, Banai's Dafna comes across as the most believable and genuine. Those mournful eyes project such sadness it breaks your heart. I wanted to cheer out loud when she finally "turns her engine back on" and realizes what a gem her oldest daughter really is.

My only complaint about Broken Wings? Maya and her brother's girlfriend look too much alike -- until one of the teenagers cuts her hair. This caused me some confusion during a couple of scenes. Fortunately, it didn't spoil the movie's overall impact.

Grieving families have been dealt with before in such outstanding films as Moonlight Mile and In the Bedroom, but never with more unflinching realism than in Broken Wings.        

(Released by Sony Pictures Classics and rated "R" for some language, brief nudity and drug use.)

Read Betty Jo's interview with filmmaker Nir Bergman.