In an era where women are fiercely denouncing gender norms, “LEONA” is a feminist’s cinematic dream. The film examines the evolution of a young woman’s self-discovery amidst her family’s traditional Jewish beliefs on love.

In Spanish director Isaac Cherem’s “Leona,” the brilliant Naian González Norvind plays Ariela, a young Jewish woman from Mexico City who finds herself torn between her strict family’s beliefs and loving a non-Jewish man, Ivan (Christian Vazquez). For Ivan, relationships have no bounds in terms of race and background. For her, however, her family’s opposing views on intermarriage quickly throw a wrench in the relationship.

The narrative harboring over González’s character is identifiable for many women trying to figuring who they are in their mid-twenties. Throughout the film, Ariela finds herself struggling to make life-altering choices regarding her career and love life at the expense of her family’s expedited demands.

A street artist is no profession for a Jewish woman in the eyes of her community and marrying or dating a non-Jew is simply an abomination but to Ariela that was her life and what kept her going. Scene after scene, the 25-year-old rebelled against what was expected of her. And while life may have seemed to be dismantling, her confidence as a woman was strangely falling into place.

Ultimately her non-Jewish boyfriend called it quits after she refused to introduce him to her racist family as if she had the option. As for the tall , Jewish specimen her cousins forced on her after the fact she made the decision to leave him also.

The film does end with a fairytale ending, just not what you’d expect. Let’s just say Ariela wins in the end. We won’t give too many spoilers away but it’s definitely a must-watch.

The review serves as part of the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival. For more information, click here.

Reports of Jussie Smollett being cut from “Empire” scenes have surfaced amid the controversy surrounding his alleged hate attack.

The actor, 36, who plays gay singer-songwriter Jamal Lyon on the show, was contracted to have nine scenes, including a musical performance scheduled for one of the closing episodes on Season 5, according to TMZ

Smollet has currently been axed on at least five episodes of which will now feature an ensemble of characters after the show’s writers were forced to revise the scripts.

Smollett still claims he was the victim of a racist and homophobic attack near his Chicago apartment Jan. 29, but there is major speculation that he paid two close pals to help stage the assault for a reason unknown.

There is a high possibility a grand jury will consider an indictment as early as Tuesday, TMZ said. Smollett could be charged with felony filing a false police report.