Between the Temples

"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.

I was not Bat Mitzvahed, but had the opportunity to learn to read Torah at the age of 50. As soon as I saw a review of this film, I knew that I had to see it. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and was moved on a very personal level.

The performances were superb, the script was sharp and funny. Most of the details were spot-on, many of them recalling my own and my family's experiences. That said, I can understand why viewers who are less familiar with Jewish ritual and culture might be left cold by the film.

Coming to Torah later in life, I, of course, related strongly to Carla's character. The one glaring flaw I felt was the absence of a Torah scroll in film. Reading from the scroll, copied and produced exactly as it had been for milennia, was an overwhelming part of the experience for me. It gave me a connection to ritual and history that I'd never experienced before.

The first thing, and really only thing, one should know about this film before they see it is it's a straight up homage to 70s film making. This means there are certain camera choices and character behaviors that won't bother you in the least if you are into that era of movie making. However, if you are not familiar the genre or out right hate it, this is not the film for you.

The last film I saw do this retro style was the 2023 Paul Giamatti movie, The Holdovers. If you enjoyed that movie, you likely will enjoy this. Or least you shouldn't hate it.

Between the Temples tells the story of a Cantor who clearly needs a psychologist but who everyone else seems to think just needs to get laid. One day, he meets his former music teacher who wants to get back to her Jewish roots and get a bat mitzvah. What's a bat mitzvah? Think of it as a coming of age party. But honestly, you do not need to know a thing about Judaism to get what's happening here. Since the films only true religion is cringe. There are scenes right from the top to almost the end that are absolute flinch inducing. All realistic but embarrassing as hell.

This is a small heart felt little movie that should be enjoyed by those in the right mindset.

I loved Between the Temples. Not so much for the slightly predictable plot -- twenty minutes in, you get no prizes for guessing where the story is going -- but for the fresh, improvisational camerawork, for the observations, the attention to the sheer physicality and texture of reality, of bodies, of objects. Some sequences are almost Vertovian: the one where the protagonist watches the video of his younger self, in particular: its tempo is so precise, so funny and poetic, it made me want to applaud.

The references to the cinema of the 70s are so pointed that it occasionally borders on the pastiche; it wasn't before the appearance of the first modern car that I became sure I wasn't watching the reedition of a forgotten vintage indie movie. But, heck, it works, in spite of its occasional weaknesses it's fun, fun, fun.

"I taught you. Now you teach me." Carla (Carol Kane)

Between the Temples taught me more about Jewish culture than any other film in recent memory. And it's not nerdy stuff: it's about Cantor Ben (Jason Schwartzman), whose gentile music teacher, Carla, requests Bat Mitsvah for herself even though she's hardly 13 years old. When she was that age, she was not allowed the 13-month preparation due to her parents being communists.

Although Temples is ostensibly a comedy, for which its screwball dialogue is a testament, it is really about different cultures adjusting to the changes that outsiders eventually bring. Having lost his wife to a freak accident a year ago, Ben is understandably distracted until Carla re-enters his life bringing romance and a host of cultural cliches, like a pushy mother trying to arrange a marriage for him. See the Shabbat dinner for the full explosion of cultural imperatives couched in comedic form.

Adding to his tension is Gabby (Madeline Weinstein), visiting daughter of Ben's Rabbi Bruce (Robert Smigel), who offers kinky sex and Ben's Mother's approval. Weinstein is an at-ease actress easy on her emotions and her look to promise a grand future.

Between the Temples has a breezy, comfortable way about dealing with the challenges so that it makes The Graduate, with its Protestant expectations for Benjamin (Dustin Hoffman) look unassuming, and Benjamin's affair with Mrs. Robinson (Anne Bancroft) negligible.

Director/writer Nathan Silver and co-writer C. Mason Wells a keep the jokes coming, e.g., the biggest menu of any restaurant scene in the history of film and Ben saying even his name is in the past. The film shows how much pain change can bring while it also delivers a whole lot of love. Pursuing your own likes makes its way to the head of the class for happiness, age and cultural differences be damned.

Schwartzman has never been better as the vulnerable Jew, and Carol Kane has never been as attractive, regardless of her age. Heck, look at 19-year-old Harold and 80-year-old Maude; thank you Hal Ashby and Cat Stevens.