A grief-stricken cantor in a crisis of faith finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher re-enters his life as his new adult Bat Mitzvah student. The two forlorn souls develop a special connection.
Jason Schwartzman
Ben Gottlieb
Carol Kane
Carla Kessler
Dolly de Leon
Judith Gottlieb
Caroline Aaron
Meira Gottlieb
Robert Smigel
Rabbi Bruce
Madeline Weinstein
Gabby / Ruth
Matthew Shear
Nat
Lindsay Burdge
Darcy
Julia Walsh
Twin #1
Brittany Walsh
Twin #2
Diane Lanyi
Cindy
Keith Poulson
Bartender
Jason Grisell
Priest
Annie Hamilton
Rachel
Jaden Waldman
Bar Mitzvah Boy
Simona Sickler
Nerdy Girl
Pauline Chalamet
Leah
Cindy Silver
Yael
Stephen Lack
Mildred's Owner
Jacob Morrell
Young Ben
John Magary
Muscular Blond Guy
Beanie
Beanie
Director, Writer
Nathan Silver
Writer
C. Mason Wells
August 27, 2024
7
"Cantor Ben" (Jason Schwartzman) has recently become a widower and is struggling to get on with his job working for Rabbi "Bruce" (Robert Smigel) at the Sinai Synagogue. He has one too many chocolate-laced "Mudslingers" in a bar one evening and that leads to an altercation that leads to a reunion with "Carla" (Carol Kane). Though neither recall immediately, it transpires that she used to be his childhood music teacher. Next thing we know, she has turned up at his synagogue where she declares her Jewish heritage and that she wishes to have her Bat Mitzvah. I didn't know that took over year to study and prepare for, and neither did she - but after a bit of convincing, he is cajoled into preparing her and the story picks up the pace as, predictably but not in a predictable fashion, the two start to bond. "Ben" lives with his two mothers - "Judith" (Dolly De Leon) and "Meira" (Caroline Aaron) who are keen on him settling down again with a nice girl, and to that end they try to set him up with the Rabbi's daughter "Gabby" (Madeline Weinstein) but somehow we just know that this solution that would please friends and family alike isn't likely to be the one he goes for. It's not especially innovative, this film - we've seen this sort of drama often before. What this does, though, is entertainingly take a look at the contractions of tradition and at belligerence. It invites us to consider what makes people happy, why age matters, and two dinner scenario towards the end provide for quite an effective conduit for true colours to come out and judgements to be delivered. It's comedic rather than a comedy - there aren't any laugh-out-loud moments; with the writing quite potent at times and an enjoyable rapport developing between the two characters uncertain of their next move. Kane steals this with her delicate delivery of a strong yet venerable persona, and although it does strive to contrive once or twice, it's still quite an enjoyable look at hypocrisy and faith and kosher burgers.