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Menashe
This story of a widower's struggle to reclaim his child is both a funny, moving drama and an insight into the world of New York's Yiddish-speaking Hasidic community.
Drama 2017 83 mins
Director: Joshua Z Weinstein
Overview
Menashe (Menashe Lustig) is a scruffy and slightly ramshackle grocer in New York's Hasidic Jewish community. Struggling to rebuild his life following the death of his wife, he longs to be reunited with his son Rieven (Ruben Niborski), who's been temporarily placed in the care of his uptight brother-in-law (Yoel Weisshaus) until Menashe remarries, in line with orthodox tradition. Realising his plight, the local Rabbi grants Menashe one week to prove himself a suitable single guardian for Rieven, and to try and move on with his life.
Director Joshua Z. Weinstein draws on his background in documentary filmmaking to craft this fascinating window into the world of the Hasidic community, with its defined network of community relations and strictures. With a story based on elements from the real life of principle actor Menashe Lustig, this is an intently authentic portrait of a largely unseen community, but also a funny, moving and universally relatable story of family bonds and responsibility.
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