They go to Leah's house in London, where she is living with Chana, her Orthodox Jewish mother. Leah and Chana get along poorly, as Leah's frustrated by Chana's overprotective, intrusive ways. Maja finds herself caught awkwardly in the middle while helping in Leah's recovery. It's soon revealed that there is more wrong with Leah than a broken leg or seizures though, and Chana's concern might be very justified...
Tropes:
- Against My Religion: Leah initially refuses the bacon Maja cooked, as she's Jewish. Though she isn't religious, Leah says the prohibition sunk in. She caves soon though when it smells so good. Later she's chided by her mom, who's Orthodox, over traveling on Shabbos (which is also forbidden).
- Bittersweet Ending: Leah is freed from the dybbuk, while she's preparing to make a life with Maja. Chana however died freeing her, and it's also implied that the dybbuk may return.
- The Dark Arts: Lev tells Maja how some practices are considered black magic by the Talmud and so forbidden. Nonetheless, he resorts to a forbidden ritual after nothing else works, one that risks the life of everyone nearby when it's performed.
- Demonic Possession: Leah's uncle Lev relates to Maja how dybbuks, tormented souls, will sometimes possess living people. The only way to exorcise them is learning about what the dybbuk wants. It turns out Leah has been possessed by one, which causes her to do strange things, and even kill a girl once years ago. Leah's mom and uncle had found a way to temporarily keep the dybbuk at bay. Later it came back though. The film's finale has them perform an exorcism to free her. It's successful, but Leah's mom Chana must sacrifice her life for Leah.
- Disappeared Dad: Leah's dad left her and her mom long ago, which Leah says broke her somewhat.
- Double-Meaning Title: The title can refer to the attachment Leah's loved ones have with her, but also the dybbuk which has attached itself to her.
- Gaydar: Maja can tell Leah likes women just by bumping into her. They soon start dating.
- Geometric Magic: The exorcism involves drawing a circle on the floor within which Leah is placed for containing the dybbuk inside her.
- Heroic Sacrifice: Chana switches places with Leah in the magic circle, knowing this will kill her, so her daughter can live.
- Hiding Behind the Language Barrier: Lev speaks to Chana in Yiddish, knowing that Maja can't understand it.
- Interrupted Intimacy: Maja is fingering Leah under the covers as Chana walks in to the room suddenly.
- Jewish Mother: Leah's mom Chana. She chides her often over different things, guilt trips her for this, and very often clashes with Leah about her life. Leah still lives in the same house with her (though they have separate apartments) and is a bit embarrassed about this. It turns out that Chana even casts spells to help Leah. She sacrifices herself so Leah can live at the end.
- Magical Incantation: Chana chants Hebrew phrases while practicing magic, as does Lev and co. later when performing an exorcism.
- Magical Jew: Lev, Leah's uncle who is Orthodox Jewish and a book shop owner, schools Maja (who's a gentile) on Jewish mysticism. He tells her about dybbuks, possessive demons in Jewish folklore, and kabbalic rituals.
- Magic Potion: Maja sees that Chana chants something in Hebrew while making Leah's chicken soup. As a result, Maja's soon convinced it's some kind of potion, but Leah won't believe it. Chana's casting a protective spell on the soup it turns out, to aid Leah.
- Meet Cute: Leah meets Maja when the latter bumps into her while they're in a bookstore.
- Missing Mom: Maja's mom recently died, leaving her the house which since then she's lived in. She's still coming to terms with her death.
- Open-Minded Parent: Lev tells Maja Chana's issues with her and Leah don't stem from their being lesbians. He doesn't care about it either, despite both him and Chana being Orthodox Jews. This appears to be true, since while Chana often nags Leah about things, she never mentions her sexuality as a problem, though it's hardly a secret (they're sharing a bed, while Chana's walked in before when they had sex). Leah never mentions this explicitly though, with her only telling Maja her mom's aware of her being with women.
- Parents Walk In at the Worst Time: Chana goes into Leah's room right when she and Maja are having sex (though under the covers). Both of them are naturally dismayed, and Leah chews her mom out for not knocking first.
- Religion is Magic: Chana and Lev, along with Lev's male friends, practice magic explicitly rooted in Jewish mysticism, the Kabbalah. For instance, they chant in Hebrew to cast spells, with the names of God being particularly powerful, says Lev.
- Sexy Discretion Shot: Leah and Maja start to make out passionately, then the scene cuts to the pair in bed together later.
