Between the Temples main backdrop
Between the Temples main poster

Between the Temples

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5.5/10 • 33

2024-08-221h 51m

ComedyDrama

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.

Directors
Nathan Silver
Writters
C. Mason Wells, Nathan Silver
Editors
John Magary

Top Billed Cast

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  1. Jason Schwartzman

    Jason Schwartzman

    Ben Gottlieb

  2. Carol Kane

    Carol Kane

    Carla Kessler

  3. Dolly de Leon

    Dolly de Leon

    Judith Gottlieb

  4. Caroline Aaron

    Caroline Aaron

    Meira Gottlieb

  5. Robert Smigel

    Robert Smigel

    Rabbi Bruce

  6. Madeline Weinstein

    Madeline Weinstein

    Gabby / Ruth

  7. Matthew Shear

    Matthew Shear

    Nat

  8. Lindsay Burdge

    Lindsay Burdge

    Darcy

  9. Julia Walsh

    Julia Walsh

    Twin #1

Reviews2

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CinemaSerf Avatar

CinemaSerf

Aug 27, 2024

7/10

"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.

Media

  • Between the Temples poster
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  • Between the Temples poster
  • Between the Temples poster
  • Between the Temples poster
  • Between the Temples poster
  • Between the Temples poster
  • Between the Temples poster
  • Between the Temples poster

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Status
Released
Original Language
English
Budget
--
Revenue
$2,113,603.00
Keywords
new york citymidlife crisiswidowcemeterymusic teachergriefjewish americanteacher student relationshiplgbtdeath of husbandcrisis of faithjewish familydeath of wifelgbt parentingjewishcantorbat mitzvahгей-родительмать-лесбиянка