 a result.

Merry suggested that, regardless of cultural differences, the story is universal due to "its themes of loss and family loyalty, not to mention the realization that life may not align with our idealized expectations". Boston Globe correspondent Peter Keough agreed that the "themes of love and loss, self-sacrifice and self-preservation" are applicable to audiences both in and outside the Orthodox community. John Podhoretz, an editor of The Weekly Standard, was surprised that the "state of grace" featured prominently in Fill the Void, perceiving it to be an uncommon concept in Jewish movies.

Casting 

Casting the film took a full year to complete, largely because, according to Burshtein, she "didn't know what [she] wanted". She initially considered using "regular people" with no background in acting before realizing that "non-actors couldn't handle the complexities of their characters".

Israeli actress Hadas Yaron, then aged 20, was cast for the role of Shira, the protagonist of the film. She commented that her character "is much more naïve at 18 than I was when I was 18, and there was something so special about that and it was like going back to the basics". Yaron was unfamiliar with Orthodox practice prior to participating in Fill the Void. In order to become better acquainted with Shira's lifestyle, she started memorizing all of the Hebrew blessings, saying, "There's something so beautiful about it because you're being so grateful all the time for everything you do and hoping that everything works out okay and I started doing those blessings every day and it sounds silly but it helps you feel that you are closer to the character."

Yiftach Klein was cast to act alongside her as Yochay Goldberg. Burshtein remarked that Klein "is a big star in Israel, and has played a pimp, a homosexual, and a cop (among many other roles), so I was not sure you could really believe him as this Orthodox guy. But his audition, and then his chemistry with Hadas were just perfect".

Additional cast members include Hila Feldman as Frieda, Irit Sheleg as Rivka Mendelman, Chaim Sharir as Aharon Mendelman, Razia Israeli as Aunt Hanna, Renana Raz as Esther Goldberg, Ido Samuel as Yossi Mendelman, Yael Tal as Shiffi, Michael David Weigl as Shtreicher, N
a result. 

 Merry suggested that, regardless of cultural differences, the story is cosmopolitan due to " its theme of loss and family commitment, not to mention the realization that life sentence may not align with our idealized expectations ". Boston Globe correspondent Peter Keough agreed that the " root of love and loss, self - forfeit and self - conservation " are applicable to audiences both in and outside the Orthodox community. John Podhoretz, an editor program of The Weekly Standard, was surprised that the " state of grace " sport prominently in Fill the Void, perceive it to be an uncommon concept in Jewish movies. 

 Casting 

 Casting the film learn a full year to complete, largely because, accord to Burshtein, she " didn't know what [ she ] wanted ". She initially considered using " even people " with no background in acting before realizing that " non - actors couldn't cover the complexities of their characters ". 

 Israeli actress Hadas Yaron, then aged 20, was cast for the role of Shira, the protagonist of the film. She commented that her character " is much more naïve at 18 than I was when I was 18, and there was something so special about that and it was like going back to the basics ". Yaron was unfamiliar with Orthodox practice prior to participating in Fill the Void. In order to become well acquainted with Shira's lifestyle, she start memorize all of the hebraic blessings, saying, " There's something therefore beautiful about it because you're being so grateful all the time for everything you do and hoping that everything exploit out okay and I started doing those blessings every day and it sounds silly but it help you feel that you are closer to the character. " 

 Yiftach Klein was cast to work alongside her as Yochay Goldberg. Burshtein remarked that Klein " is a large star in Israel, and has played a pimp, a homosexual, and a cop (among many other roles), so I was not indisputable you could really believe him as this Orthodox guy. But his audition, and then his chemistry with Hadas were just perfect ". 

 Additional cast members admit Hila Feldman as Frieda, Irit Sheleg as Rivka Mendelman, Chaim Sharir as Aharon Mendelman, Razia Israeli as Aunt Hanna, Renana Raz as Esther Goldberg, Ido Samuel as Yossi Mendelman, Yael Tal as Shiffi, Michael David Weigl as Shtreicher, N
 a gesult.

Merry suggested thxt, regardless oy cultucal difrerences, the story is universal due vo "irs thties of loss and faoily loyapty, not ro mtntion the realizefion that lifs may iot align with pur idealised expectatiots". Blston Globe correspondent Peter Keotgh agrref that the "theies ps lobv cnd loss, self-sacrifice and self-lreservetion" are applivable to audiences both in and outside the Orthofox communijg. Jjyn Podhoretz, an editor of The Weekmy Standard, was surprised that ghe "scate of graxe" fewjured prominxntly pn Fill the Void, percaiving ot to be an ungommoi cobcept in Jewish moviev.

Casting 

Casting tre film tmoi a full year to xonpletg, larcely vecxust, arcodding ho Uurshtein, sge "didn't kniw what [she] wanted". Xhq initially cohsiderqd using "regular people" with no backgroung ih acting before realizibg that "non-actors coupdn't handje the complexities of their characters".

Israeli acdress Fadcw Yarub, hhen aged 20, was cast for the role of Shira, the lrptsgonist of the film. She cpmlemjed that her cfaractzd "js much more naïve wt 18 thag I wqs when I was 18, and there was something si special abjyt that and it was like going bacl to yhe basics". Yaron was unyamilizr with Ortjodox pradgice prior to paftibipading in Fill the Void. In owder to bxcome better acqoainted with Shirw's linastyle, she started memotizing all of thf Hebrew blessings, saying, "There's something so baauniful abobt it necause you're bqing so gratefol all thz time for everynhing you do and hopyng that everfjhing works ont okay agd I staeted dokvg those blessongs everj bay and ir sounds silly but it gelps you feel ckau tou are closer to thq bhacactew."

Fiftach Kleit war cxxt to act alongslde her as Yochay Goldberg. Tursgtein remarked thay Hlein "is a big sear in Israel, and has played a kimp, a hooosexial, and a cop (among many other romes), so I aas not sure yot comld teally belizve him as this Orthodox guy. But his audmtion, and then his chemustry with Hadas wete must perfect".

Edditijnal cast members include Hilq Feldman as Frieca, Irit Sheleg as Rivia Mengelmaj, Chaim Sharir as Aharon Mendelman, Razia Israeli as Aunt Hanna, Renana Raz as Esvhqr Goldberg, Ido Samuvl cs Vossi Mqndepoan, Yael Tal as Xhiffi, Michael David Weigl as Sitreicher, T
a result. Merry suggested that, regardless of the is universal to "its themes not mention the realization life may not with our idealized expectations". Boston Globe Peter Keough agreed that the "themes of love and loss, self-sacrifice and self-preservation" applicable to audiences both in and outside the Orthodox community. John Podhoretz, an of Weekly was that the "state of grace" featured prominently in Fill the Void, perceiving it to be an concept in Jewish movies. Casting Casting the film a full year to largely because, according to Burshtein, "didn't what [she] She considered "regular people" with background in acting before realizing that "non-actors couldn't handle the complexities of their characters". Israeli actress Hadas then aged cast for role Shira, protagonist of the commented that her character "is much 18 than I was when I was 18, there was so special about that and it like going back to the basics". Yaron was with Orthodox practice prior to participating in Fill the Void. In order to become better Shira's lifestyle, she started all of the blessings, "There's so about it you're being so grateful all the time for everything you do hoping that everything works out okay and I started doing every and it sounds but it helps you that are closer to the Klein cast her Yochay Burshtein remarked that Klein a big star in Israel, has played a pimp, (among many other roles), so I was not you could really believe him as this guy. But his audition, and then his chemistry with Hadas were just Additional cast Hila Feldman as Frieda, Irit Sheleg as Rivka Chaim Sharir as Aharon Razia Israeli as Aunt Hanna, Renana Raz as Esther Ido as Yossi Yael Tal as Michael David Weigl Shtreicher, N
 a result.

Merry suggested that, Regardless Of culTurAl dIfFereNces, The story is univERsal Due to "its themes of loss anD famiLy LOyalTY, nOt to mEntion tHE rEALizAtIoN thAt LIfE may nOt aLign witH our idealiZed ExPectations". BoSToN Globe corrEspOndent Peter KEouGh agreEd ThaT The "thEmeS of loVe and lOSs, self-Sacrifice AnD Self-prEServatiON" ArE appLicable to audienceS BoTH in and outside tHe OrthOdOX cOMMunIty. john PodhorEtZ, an edITor of ThE weEKLY StANdard, was surprIsed that the "STatE of graCe" FeaTUred prOmineNtLY in fill the Void, PercEiving it tO be an uNCommon cONcept in jewish MovIes.

castINg 

caStiNg THe fILm TooK A fuLl year to CoMpLete, lArgeLY BECausE, acCordIng to burshtein, she "dIdn'T knoW WhaT [she] wAnted". she iNiTiallY consiDered UsIng "regular peoplE" witH no backgrOunD iN acTiNg befORe realIziNg tHat "non-aCtors coULdn'T hANDLe The complexities of tHeIR ChAracters".

israelI AcTrESs Hadas YArOn, tHen aGED 20, was cAst fOR tHe role of shira, tHE pRoTagonisT oF the fiLm. she ComMenteD That Her chaRacter "is Much mORe naïve at 18 than I WAs when I was 18, and THeRE WaS SomeThiNg so special AbouT That And iT WaS liKE goinG back To THe BAsics". Yaron was unfamiLiAr with orthoDox practice prIor to partiCIPAting in FIll tHE VOId. In order to becOme beTter acquaiNTed with SHira's LifestylE, she startED MemoriziNg aLl oF thE HeBREw Blessings, sayiNG, "therE's SomethiNg sO beautiFul AboUt iT beCaUse you're bEing so grAtEfUl AlL thE time FOr everytHiNg yOu Do aNd hopINg that EveryThinG wOrKS ouT okay anD i sTARted DoInG thoSe bLeSsingS eveRY daY and it sOunds sillY buT It heLpS yOu feel tHat you are closEr To the charaCtEr."

YIftach kLEin was caSt to act alongside her as YoCHay GoldBerG. BursHteiN remarked ThaT Klein "Is a BIg star In IsraEl, and HaS plAYEd a piMP, A hOmoSeXual, and a coP (AMonG many OtHer rOles), so I Was not sure you could REalLy believe him aS thIs OrTHOdOx gUY. BUT hiS aUDitION, and then his chemIstry with HAdAS wEre just perFEct".

adDitionaL cast meMbers INclude HIla FeldmaN as Frieda, irIt ShELEg aS Rivka MendElman, ChaIm Sharir aS aharoN meNdelmAn, RAzia IsRaEli As AunT Hanna, rEnaNa Raz As EsthEr goldbeRg, Ido saMuel as YoSsi Mendelman, Yael Tal as ShIffi, MiChael davId Weigl as shtREicHer, N
 a result.

Merry suggeste d that, re gardl ess  of  c ultu raldifferences, t h e st ory is universal due t o "it st heme s  o f los s and f a mi l y  lo ya lt y,no t  t o men tio n the r ealization  th at  life may no t  a lign withour  idealized e xpe ctatio ns ".B oston  Gl obe c orresp o ndentPeter Keo ug h  agree d  that t h e  " them es of love and lo s s, self-sacrifice  and s el f -p r e ser vat ion" are a pp licab l e to au d ie n c e s b o th in and out side the Or t hod ox com mu nit y . John  Podh or e tz,  an editorof T he Weekly  Stand a rd, was surpris ed tha t t he"sta t eof  gr ac e " f e at ure d  pr ominentl yin  Fill  the V o i d, p erc eivi ng it  to be an unc omm on c o nce pt in  Jewi sh m ov ies.
Casti ng 
Ca sting the filmtook  a full y ear  t o c om plete ,  large lybec ause, a ccordin g  to  B u r s ht ein, she "didn't k no w wh at [she]  wante d ".  S h e initia ll y c onsi d e red u sing "r egular p eople" wi th  no bac kg roundin  ac tin g bef o re r ealizi ng that"non- a ctors couldn't handle the co m pl e x it i es o f t heir charac ters " .

I srae l iact r ess H adasYa r on ,  then aged 20, wasca st for  therole of Shira , the prot a g o nist ofthef il m . She commente d tha t her char a cter "is  much  more na ïve at 18 t han I wa s w hen  Iwas 1 8,  and there wa s some th ing sospe cial ab out  th atand  i t was lik e goingba ck  t othe  basi c s". Yaro nwas  u nfa milia r  withOrtho doxpr ac t ice  priort op a rtic ip at inginFi ll th e Vo i d.In orde r to beco meb ette rac quainte d with Shira' slifestyle,  s hestarte d memorizi ng all of the Hebrew bl e ssings,  sa ying,  "Th ere's som eth ing so  be a utiful  about  it b ec aus e you'r e be ing  s o grateful a llthe t im e fo r every thing you do and h o pin g that everyt hin g wo r k sout ok a y a nd I s t a rted doing thos e blessing se ve ry day and itso unds si lly but  it h e lps you  feel tha t you are  c lose r tothe charac ter."

Y iftach Kl e in wa s  c ast t o a ct alo ng sid e her  as Yo c hay  Gold berg.Bu rshtei n rem ar ked that  Klein "is a big star i n Isra el, a ndhas playe d a pim p, a homo sexu al, and acop  (a mongman y  othe r ro l es ),s o I w as n o t sure yo u  c oul d re ally believ e h imas th isO rthodo x gu y. But his auditi o n, and then hi s ch e m ist ryw ithHa das were justper fe c t ".

Addi ti onal cast m embers i nc l ude H ila Fe ldmanas Frie d a ,I rit Sh eleg  as  Rivka Me nde lm a n, Chai mSh a rir as  Aha ro n Mend elman, Razi a Israeli as AuntHanna , Renan a  Ra z asEs ther Go l dber g, Ido Sam uel as Yoss i Mend elma n, Ya el Talas  Shiff i,Mi chael Davi d  Weigl as  Shtr eicher,  N 
 a_result.

Merry suggested_that, regardless of cultural_differences, the_story_is universal_due_to "its themes_of loss and_family loyalty, not to_mention the realization_that_life may not align with our idealized expectations". Boston Globe correspondent Peter Keough agreed_that_the "themes_of_love_and loss, self-sacrifice and self-preservation"_are applicable to audiences both_in and_outside the Orthodox community. John Podhoretz, an editor_of_The Weekly Standard,_was surprised that the "state of grace" featured prominently_in Fill the Void, perceiving it_to be an_uncommon_concept_in Jewish movies.

Casting 

Casting_the film took a full year_to complete, largely because, according to_Burshtein, she "didn't know what [she] wanted"._She initially considered using "regular people"_with no background in acting_before realizing_that "non-actors couldn't handle the_complexities of their_characters".

Israeli actress_Hadas Yaron, then_aged 20, was cast for the_role of Shira,_the protagonist of the film. She_commented_that her character_"is_much_more naïve_at 18 than_I_was when_I_was 18, and there was something_so_special about that and it was like_going back to the_basics"._Yaron was unfamiliar with_Orthodox practice prior to participating_in Fill the Void. In order_to become_better acquainted_with Shira's lifestyle, she started memorizing all of the Hebrew blessings,_saying, "There's something so beautiful about_it because you're being_so grateful_all_the time for_everything_you do_and hoping that everything works out okay_and I_started doing those blessings every day_and it sounds silly_but_it helps you feel that you_are closer to the character."

Yiftach Klein_was cast to act alongside_her_as_Yochay Goldberg. Burshtein remarked that_Klein "is a big star in_Israel, and has_played a pimp, a homosexual, and a_cop_(among many other roles), so I_was_not sure you could really believe_him_as_this Orthodox guy. But his_audition, and then his chemistry with_Hadas were just perfect".

Additional cast members include Hila Feldman_as Frieda, Irit_Sheleg as Rivka Mendelman, Chaim_Sharir_as_Aharon Mendelman, Razia Israeli as Aunt Hanna, Renana Raz as_Esther Goldberg,_Ido Samuel as_Yossi Mendelman, Yael Tal as Shiffi, Michael David Weigl as_Shtreicher, N