Jewish Women in Argentine Cinema: The Transgressive Bride in Damián Szifrón’s Relatos salvajes (2014)

This article examines the final short of Damián Szifrón’s Relatos salvajes, “Hasta que la muerte nos separe,” against the context of Jewish women’s characterization in Argentine cinema since the 1930s, showing that the portrayal of Jewish women both reflects and responds to key societal, cultural, and historical developments in Argentina. “Hasta que la muerte nos separe” showcases a Jewish wedding celebration where the bride transgresses the traditional gender role of the Jewish wife as submissive and passive, introducing one of the most defiant Jewish women in Argentine film. Informed by feminist film theory, this study contends that the representation of the Jewish bride as rebellious contests “natural” gender notions, thus projecting a more complex recreation of gender roles, one that is more attuned to contemporary society.