Featuring Carol Kane as an adult learner of bat-mitzvah, ‘Between the Temples’ is acclaimed as the most jumpy Jewish comedy since the Coen brothers depicted Michael Stuhlbarg’s Jobian woes in ‘A Serious Man’. Kane’s role alone warrants the ticket price, yet there’s more on offer. Jason Schwartzman takes on the persona of Ben Gottlieb, a despondent man facing mid-life crisis, haunted by thoughts of suicide following his wife’s death a year earlier.
Though a cantor at his local temple, mourning leaves Ben unable to sing or chant. The comedic interferences of his domineering mothers – portrayed by Caroline Aaron and Dolly de Leon, a spectacular casting masterstroke – and flirtations from a rabbi’s unconventional daughter (Madeline Weinstein) fail to rouse him. His life takes a turn when he encounters Carla Kessler (Kane), his former primary school music teacher, in search of religious guidance and he’s in search of purpose. Carla’s keen to learn despite shaky understanding of kosher edicts and her reluctance to sacrifice cheeseburgers. This unusual pair spark curiosity, not least from her confused grown son.
Nathan Silver, a fervent indie cinema director, triumphs with this somewhat extemporized comedy. Amongst classic one-liners: Jews “don’t have heaven or hell,” Ben notes, “We just have upstate New York,” and uncomfortably humorous family gatherings. Schwartzman transposes his stern widower’s grief from Asteroid City into edgy dark comedy. Veteran movie star Kane enlivens the screen with dynamic unrest. Together they perform an impeccable dance in a film that continuously keeps you on your toes.
While ‘Between the Temples’ teeters on the edge of a romantic undercurrent, it breaks from the conventional pattern of ‘Harold and Maude’, and ventures into unusual territories, from cherished voicemails from Ben’s deceased wife to unpredictable events. Cinematographer Sean Price Williams, renowned for his dynamic approach, effectively captures the film’s oddball proceedings.
‘Between the Temples’ hits cinemas from Friday, August 23rd.