A 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.A 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.A 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.
- Awards
- 4 wins & 7 nominations
- Director
- Writers
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe rabbi has a personalized license plate that says TKNOLUM. This refers to the Hebrew phrase "Tikkun Olam" meaning "Repair the World".
- GoofsWhile being picked on at the bar, Benny finishes his mudslide and noisily places the empty glass on the bar. As seen from the big guy's point of view, the mudslide in front of Benny is hall full.
- Quotes
Rabbi Bruce: Anyone is entitled to love anyone, but not while pretending and giving other people the impression that he loves someone else.
- ConnectionsReferences The Philadelphia Story (1940)
- SoundtracksKol Ehad
Performed by Mordecai Arnon (as Pupik Arnon)
Written by Miki Gabrielov and Mordecai Arnon (as Mordechai 'Pupik' Arnon)
Courtesy of Phonokol Record Company
Featured review
"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.
- CinemaSerf
- Aug 26, 2024
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Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- 聖殿領唱的幸福指南
- Filming locations
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $2,084,122
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $647,757
- Aug 25, 2024
- Gross worldwide
- $2,316,693
- Runtime1 hour 51 minutes
- Color
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