Monday, April 10, 2006

Ushpizin


Ushpizin
Originally uploaded by recyclingfan.
Remarkable israeli movie, filmed in orthodox area of jerusalem. About a rabbi who is broke, wants to honor succah by taking strangers in (celebrates Moses and years spent in sinai, esp honor Abraham, who took in strangers, practiced piety for god's grace). Moshe and his wife (real wife, both played by theater trained actors) pray for miracle, some rich jewish businessman gives them $1,000 anonymously, they rejoice. Moshe gets a succah (steals it as it turns out) and two of his old friends come by for help. Turns out, they are criminals, in fact, Moshe used to be one. Is Moshe pious? is he sincere? Will god bless him and give him and his wife a son? The story parallels that of Abraham and Sarah (kinda), combines the secular with the ultra conservative orthodox jews in jerusalem, happy ending. Absolutely beautiful movie. The living Torah?

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