Menashe Lustig and Ruben Nyborg in Menashe - Within Brooklyn’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community, a widower battles for custody of his son. A tender drama performed entirely in Yiddish, the film intimately explores the nature of faith and the price of parenthood. Photo: Federica Valabrega
Here's our selection of films to catch on the telly this week, if you're looking for more inspiration, check out our Streaming Spotlight on indigenous filmmakers.
Menashe, Film4, Tuesday, August 10, 2.20am
Joshua Z Weinstein takes a clear-eyed approach to the Hasidic community, crafting an engrossing drama about a man who faces losing custody of his son following the death of his wife if he doesn't remarry quickly. Comic Menashe Lustig plays the lead and the story carries all the more heft because it is loosely based on his own life. Weinstein captures the everyday rhythms of Menashe's daily routine without overly romanticising them or feeling...
Here's our selection of films to catch on the telly this week, if you're looking for more inspiration, check out our Streaming Spotlight on indigenous filmmakers.
Menashe, Film4, Tuesday, August 10, 2.20am
Joshua Z Weinstein takes a clear-eyed approach to the Hasidic community, crafting an engrossing drama about a man who faces losing custody of his son following the death of his wife if he doesn't remarry quickly. Comic Menashe Lustig plays the lead and the story carries all the more heft because it is loosely based on his own life. Weinstein captures the everyday rhythms of Menashe's daily routine without overly romanticising them or feeling...
- 8/9/2021
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Synopsis Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to …
The post “The Vigil” Opens This Friday – Supernatural Horror in Hasidic Brooklyn appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post “The Vigil” Opens This Friday – Supernatural Horror in Hasidic Brooklyn appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 2/25/2021
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
They are called shomers, folks who sit by a recently deceased family member or loved one, often in shifts, to watch over the body before burial. It’s a centuries-old Jewish tradition, designed to keep the soul of the dead safe from harm. Should a relative be unwilling or unable to perform this duty, it’s possible to pay a professional to sub in. It’s an honor and a calling, though there are some pitfalls in the shomer-for-hire business one needs to be aware of. The likelihood of extreme...
- 2/25/2021
- by David Fear
- Rollingstone.com
The Vigil Trailer — Keith Thomas‘ The Vigil (2019) movie trailer has been released by IFC Midnight. The Vigil Trailer stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, Lynn Cohen, Malky Goldman, Fred Melamed, Nati Rabinowitz, Moshe Lobel, Lea Kalisch, Ethan Stone, Spencer Zender, Dun Laskey, and Rob Tunstall. Crew Keith Thomas wrote the screenplay for The Vigil. [...]
Continue reading: The Vigil Trailer: A Jewish Burial Ritual turns Sinister in Keith Thomas’ 2019 Supernatural Horror Thriller...
Continue reading: The Vigil Trailer: A Jewish Burial Ritual turns Sinister in Keith Thomas’ 2019 Supernatural Horror Thriller...
- 2/12/2021
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
The Vigil: "Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn's Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight "shomer," fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member. Shortly after arriving at the recently departed's dilapidated house to sit the vigil, Yakov begins to realize that something is very, very wrong."
Written and Directed by Keith Thomas, Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen
Opens in Select Theaters, on Digital Platforms and VOD on February 26th
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Safer At Home: "Two years into the pandemic, a group of friends throw an online party with a night of games,...
Written and Directed by Keith Thomas, Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen
Opens in Select Theaters, on Digital Platforms and VOD on February 26th
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Safer At Home: "Two years into the pandemic, a group of friends throw an online party with a night of games,...
- 2/10/2021
- by Jonathan James
- DailyDead
"It won't let you leave..." "Mrs. Litvak - what won't let me leave?" IFC Midnight has unveiled the full-length official trailer for the supernatural horror film titled The Vigil, which originally premiered back at the 2019 Toronto Film Festival. Marking the feature directorial debut of writer / director Keith Thomas, the horror film is set in the Orthodox Jewish community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, and steeped in Jewish lore and demonology. A young Brooklyn man who agrees to be a "shomer", hired to sit in overnight to watch over a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community, finds himself opposite a malevolent entity. Starring Dave Davis as Yakov, with Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman, Lynn Cohen, Fred Melamed, Ronald Cohen, and Nati Rabinowitz. This looks utterly terrifying. There's not even a lot shown in this trailer, but it seriously creeps me out anyway. Horror fans of all kinds should definitely keep an eye on this.
- 2/10/2021
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Following its well-received run on the festival circuit (including its recent Audience Award win at Popcorn Frights Wicked Weekend virtual Halloween celebration), Keith Thomas' The Vigil is coming to select theaters, Digital, and VOD on February 26th from IFC Midnight, and ahead of its release, a haunting new poster has been revealed.
You can check out the new poster below, and in case you missed it, read Lindsay Traves' in-depth interview with Thomas, who is also directing the new adaptation of Stephen King's Firestarter.
Written and directed by Thomas, The Vigil stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen.
Synopsis: "Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn's Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante...
You can check out the new poster below, and in case you missed it, read Lindsay Traves' in-depth interview with Thomas, who is also directing the new adaptation of Stephen King's Firestarter.
Written and directed by Thomas, The Vigil stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig, and Lynn Cohen.
Synopsis: "Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn's Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante...
- 1/15/2021
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
The Vigil Opens February 26th in theaters and VOD. It will be available on these platforms:
Digital Platforms: iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox. Cable Platforms: Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, Altice (Optimum), Cox, DirecTV, AT&T, Bend Broadband, Buckeye, Guadalupe Valley, Hotwire Communications, Metrocast, Suddenlink, Wow Internet Cable, Rcn, Midcontinent Communications
The Critics love The Vigil!
“Proof that bible-thumping priests and haunted converts can’t have all the spooky fun. The filmmaking maintains its gripping spell all the way through; A remarkable showcase for Dave Davis, who commands every scene.”– Eric Kohn, IndieWire
“A devilish, bone-crunching chiller. The Exorcist comes to Borough Park. “– Jordan Mintzner, The Hollywood Reporter
“A fresh take on the religious/demon possession film. Feels like a breath of fresh air.”– Joe Lipsett, Bloody Disgusting
“Cultural context enhances an effectively creepy chiller. Anything might be (and usually is) hiding in the shadows. Davis is excellent.”– Dennis Harvey,...
Digital Platforms: iTunes, Amazon, GooglePlay, YouTube, Vudu, PlayStation, Xbox. Cable Platforms: Comcast Xfinity, Spectrum, Verizon Fios, Altice (Optimum), Cox, DirecTV, AT&T, Bend Broadband, Buckeye, Guadalupe Valley, Hotwire Communications, Metrocast, Suddenlink, Wow Internet Cable, Rcn, Midcontinent Communications
The Critics love The Vigil!
“Proof that bible-thumping priests and haunted converts can’t have all the spooky fun. The filmmaking maintains its gripping spell all the way through; A remarkable showcase for Dave Davis, who commands every scene.”– Eric Kohn, IndieWire
“A devilish, bone-crunching chiller. The Exorcist comes to Borough Park. “– Jordan Mintzner, The Hollywood Reporter
“A fresh take on the religious/demon possession film. Feels like a breath of fresh air.”– Joe Lipsett, Bloody Disgusting
“Cultural context enhances an effectively creepy chiller. Anything might be (and usually is) hiding in the shadows. Davis is excellent.”– Dennis Harvey,...
- 1/14/2021
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Tagline: "He Did Not Leave You." The Vigil is a horror movie steeped in Jewish tradition. Set in Brooklyn, Yakov offers to spend the night with a corpse, to ward off evil. But, this ancient practice leads to the discovery of a demonic force. As well, this title is from director Keith Thomas (Arkane) and stars: Dave Davis ("The Walking Dead"), Malky Goldman (The Alien), Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen. The film's official movie poster and trailer are here. The trailer shows Yakov (Davis) with the body under a sheet. Strange events take place as this character confronts a sinister evil. IFC Midnight will show The Vigil this February 26th. On this date, this thriller will be available across the United States, with the film set to show in more territories soon. Release Date: February 26th, 2021 (Digital). Director/writer: Keith Thomas. Cast: Dave Davis, Malky Goldman, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen.
- 1/11/2021
- by noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)
- 28 Days Later Analysis
Invites You to Celebrate the First Night of Hanukkah with an Early Look at Written and Directed by Keith Thomas Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen Opens in Select Theaters, on Digital Platforms and VOD on February 26th “The Vigil is proof that bible-thumping priests and haunted converts can’t have all the spooky …
The post The Vigil, A Tale of Supernatural Horror Steeped in Ancient Jewish Tradition, Opens Feb 26th | New Teaser Trailer appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
The post The Vigil, A Tale of Supernatural Horror Steeped in Ancient Jewish Tradition, Opens Feb 26th | New Teaser Trailer appeared first on Horror News | Hnn.
- 12/28/2020
- by Adrian Halen
- Horror News
Stars: Dave Davis, Fred Melamed, Ronald Cohen, Lynn Cohen, Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman | Written and Directed by Keith Thomas
The debut feature from writer-director Keith Thomas, engaging and atmospheric horror The Vigil centres on Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis), a young man who has recently joined a self-help group for Jews struggling to adjust after leaving a tight-knit Orthodox community. In addition to processing a deeply traumatic event, Yakov is also struggling financially, so when his former rabbi Reb Shulem (Menashe Lustig) offers him $400 to sit as shomer and watch over the body of a recently deceased Holocaust survivor (Ronald Cohen), he is more or less forced to accept.
As The Vigil explains up front with captions, being a shomer means protecting the recently deceased person from evil spirits or demons. Unfortunately, Mr Litvak had spent most of his life being haunted by a Mazzik (similar to a Dybbuk), so Yakov...
The debut feature from writer-director Keith Thomas, engaging and atmospheric horror The Vigil centres on Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis), a young man who has recently joined a self-help group for Jews struggling to adjust after leaving a tight-knit Orthodox community. In addition to processing a deeply traumatic event, Yakov is also struggling financially, so when his former rabbi Reb Shulem (Menashe Lustig) offers him $400 to sit as shomer and watch over the body of a recently deceased Holocaust survivor (Ronald Cohen), he is more or less forced to accept.
As The Vigil explains up front with captions, being a shomer means protecting the recently deceased person from evil spirits or demons. Unfortunately, Mr Litvak had spent most of his life being haunted by a Mazzik (similar to a Dybbuk), so Yakov...
- 12/24/2020
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
An orthodox Jewish ritual gets a haunted twist in writer/director Keith Thomas’ new horror movie from IFC Midnight, “The Vigil.” The film originally premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it scored critical acclaim out of the Midnight Madness section. This horror movie set over the course of one night will open in available theaters, plus on VOD and digital platforms, February 26. Watch the the first trailer below.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, ‘The Vigil’ is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight ‘shomer,’ fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member.
Here’s the official synopsis:
“Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, ‘The Vigil’ is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from his former rabbi and confidante (Menashe Lustig) to take on the responsibility of an overnight ‘shomer,’ fulfilling the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member.
- 12/13/2020
- by Ryan Lattanzio
- Indiewire
"There is something very, very wrong here..." IFC Midnight has revealed a teaser trailer (to celebrate the start of Hanukkah today) for the supernatural horror film titled The Vigil, which originally premiered at last year's Toronto Film Festival. Marking the feature directorial debut of writer / director Keith Thomas, the horror film is set in the Orthodox Jewish community in Borough Park, Brooklyn, and steeped in Jewish lore and demonology. A Brooklyn man who agrees to be a "shomer", hired to sit in overnight to watch over a deceased member of his former Orthodox Jewish community, finds himself opposite a malevolent entity. Starring Dave Davis as Yakov, with Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman, Lynn Cohen, Fred Melamed, Ronald Cohen, and Nati Rabinowitz. This looks super creepy! The premise is scary to begin with, but the glimpses of horror we get in this (and that poster!) are very scary. Already nervous about watching this.
- 12/10/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Following its well-received run on the film festival circuit (including recently winning the Audience Award at Popcorn Frights' Wicked Weekend), Keith Thomas' The Vigil is coming out in select theaters and on Digital platforms and VOD on February 26th from IFC Midnight, and a new teaser trailer has been unveiled ahead of its release.
Written and directed by Thomas, The Vigil stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen. You can watch the new teaser trailer below, and in case you missed it, check out Lindsay Traves' in-depth interview with Thomas, who is also directing the new adaptation of Stephen King's Firestarter.
Synopsis: "Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn's Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from...
Written and directed by Thomas, The Vigil stars Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen. You can watch the new teaser trailer below, and in case you missed it, check out Lindsay Traves' in-depth interview with Thomas, who is also directing the new adaptation of Stephen King's Firestarter.
Synopsis: "Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is supernatural horror film set over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn's Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Low on funds and having recently left his insular religious community, Yakov (Dave Davis) reluctantly accepts an offer from...
- 12/10/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Premiering at last year’s TIFF in its Midnight Madness section, Keith Thomas’ horror feature The Vigil takes place over the course of a single evening in Brooklyn’s Hasidic Borough Park neighborhood. Starring Dave Davis, Menashe Lustig and Lynn Cohen, we follow an overnight “shomer,” the Jewish practice of watching over the body of a deceased community member, though with a supernatural twist. Ahead of a February release, and timed with the first night of Hanukkah, IFC Midnight has now debuted the first trailer.
C.J. Prince said in our TIFF review, “If there’s anything going for The Vigil, it’s the setting. Aside from the title cards at the start, Thomas doesn’t spend much time giving exposition about the community he’s focusing on, which works to the film’s benefit for the most part. But no matter how much cultural specificity one can put in their film,...
C.J. Prince said in our TIFF review, “If there’s anything going for The Vigil, it’s the setting. Aside from the title cards at the start, Thomas doesn’t spend much time giving exposition about the community he’s focusing on, which works to the film’s benefit for the most part. But no matter how much cultural specificity one can put in their film,...
- 12/10/2020
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
Before helming the upcoming new adaptation of Stephen King's Firestarter, Keith Thomas directed The Vigil, which has been acquired by IFC Midnight and is slated for a February 26th, 2021 release.
You can read the press release with full details below, and in case you missed it, read Lindsay Traves' previous interview with Thomas.
From the Press Release: New York, NY - IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to writer-director Keith Thomas’ feature debut, The Vigil, a supernatural horror film with a Hasidic Jewish twist. The Vigil stars Dave Davis (Bomb City), Malky Goldman (Unorthodox), Menashe Lustig (Menashe), Fred Melamed (A Serious Man), and Lynn Cohen (Munich). Producing is Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz of BoulderLight Pictures alongside Adam Margules (Menashe). Additional notable credits within the filmmaking team include editor Brett W. Bachman, composer Michael Yezerski (The Devil’S Candy), and cinematographer Zach Kuperstein.
IFC Films and BoulderLight,...
You can read the press release with full details below, and in case you missed it, read Lindsay Traves' previous interview with Thomas.
From the Press Release: New York, NY - IFC Midnight announced today that it is acquiring U.S. rights to writer-director Keith Thomas’ feature debut, The Vigil, a supernatural horror film with a Hasidic Jewish twist. The Vigil stars Dave Davis (Bomb City), Malky Goldman (Unorthodox), Menashe Lustig (Menashe), Fred Melamed (A Serious Man), and Lynn Cohen (Munich). Producing is Raphael Margules and J.D. Lifshitz of BoulderLight Pictures alongside Adam Margules (Menashe). Additional notable credits within the filmmaking team include editor Brett W. Bachman, composer Michael Yezerski (The Devil’S Candy), and cinematographer Zach Kuperstein.
IFC Films and BoulderLight,...
- 10/7/2020
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
Exclusive, Updated: IFC Midnight has acquired U.S. rights to filmmaker Keith Thomas’ supernatural horror feature debut The Vigil after a bidding war for the pic. The movie, which is billed as having a Hasidic Jewish twist, made its world premiere at TIFF 2019 in the Midnight Madness Section and was slotted for SXSW 2020.
Blumhouse previously was set to distribute The Vigil. Thomas is directing the reboot of Stephen King’s Firestarter starring Zac Efron for Blumhouse, Universal and Weed Road Productions. IFC Midnight purchased the movie from BoulderLight. IFC Midnight and BoulderLight respectively had notable genre theatrical day and date pandemic mini-hits over the summer, IFC with The Rental and Relic and BoulderLight with Becky. Overall, IFC made close to $5M during the pandemic fueled by its genre fare. IFC Midnight is planning a Feb. 26, 2021 release date for The Vigil.
Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is...
Blumhouse previously was set to distribute The Vigil. Thomas is directing the reboot of Stephen King’s Firestarter starring Zac Efron for Blumhouse, Universal and Weed Road Productions. IFC Midnight purchased the movie from BoulderLight. IFC Midnight and BoulderLight respectively had notable genre theatrical day and date pandemic mini-hits over the summer, IFC with The Rental and Relic and BoulderLight with Becky. Overall, IFC made close to $5M during the pandemic fueled by its genre fare. IFC Midnight is planning a Feb. 26, 2021 release date for The Vigil.
Steeped in ancient Jewish lore and demonology, The Vigil is...
- 10/7/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
There is triumph in “Unorthodox,” but there is also tragedy. The triumph comes from Esther Shapiro (Shira Haas), aka “Esty,” the young woman who escapes her Hasidic life in Williamsburg to find a new secular beginning in Berlin. The tragedy is that the family she leaves behind never makes an attempt to understand her.
Usually, these things go both ways. Watching the show led me to contemplate my own family connections to Orthodox Judaism, and whether I had ever made a legitimate attempt to address the disconnection I have with my closest relative at the center of that world. He’s my brother, and “Unorthodox” gave me a welcome excuse to discuss issues we had set aside years ago.
“Unorthodox,” an eight-time Emmy nominee, doesn’t make a compelling case for religious Judaism, but it wrestles with what it means to feel to connected to that routine. That much felt familiar.
Usually, these things go both ways. Watching the show led me to contemplate my own family connections to Orthodox Judaism, and whether I had ever made a legitimate attempt to address the disconnection I have with my closest relative at the center of that world. He’s my brother, and “Unorthodox” gave me a welcome excuse to discuss issues we had set aside years ago.
“Unorthodox,” an eight-time Emmy nominee, doesn’t make a compelling case for religious Judaism, but it wrestles with what it means to feel to connected to that routine. That much felt familiar.
- 8/11/2020
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Stars: Dave Davis, Fred Melamed, Ronald Cohen, Lynn Cohen, Menashe Lustig, Malky Goldman | Written and Directed by Keith Thomas
The debut feature from writer-director Keith Thomas, engaging and atmospheric horror The Vigil centres on Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis), a young man who has recently joined a self-help group for Jews struggling to adjust after leaving a tight-knit Orthodox community. In addition to processing a deeply traumatic event, Yakov is also struggling financially, so when his former rabbi Reb Shulem (Menashe Lustig) offers him $400 to sit as shomer and watch over the body of a recently deceased Holocaust survivor (Ronald Cohen), he is more or less forced to accept.
As The Vigil explains up front with captions, being a shomer means protecting the recently deceased person from evil spirits or demons. Unfortunately, Mr Litvak had spent most of his life being haunted by a Mazzik (similar to a Dybbuk), so Yakov...
The debut feature from writer-director Keith Thomas, engaging and atmospheric horror The Vigil centres on Yakov Ronen (Dave Davis), a young man who has recently joined a self-help group for Jews struggling to adjust after leaving a tight-knit Orthodox community. In addition to processing a deeply traumatic event, Yakov is also struggling financially, so when his former rabbi Reb Shulem (Menashe Lustig) offers him $400 to sit as shomer and watch over the body of a recently deceased Holocaust survivor (Ronald Cohen), he is more or less forced to accept.
As The Vigil explains up front with captions, being a shomer means protecting the recently deceased person from evil spirits or demons. Unfortunately, Mr Litvak had spent most of his life being haunted by a Mazzik (similar to a Dybbuk), so Yakov...
- 7/24/2020
- by Matthew Turner
- Nerdly
Next month, the 2020 SXSW Film Festival kicks off in Austin, Texas, and this week, we finally have a look at the fest’s killer Midnighter slate, which includes one of this writer’s favorite films from Sundance, Natalie Erika James’ Relic. The 2020 lineup also features another Sundance 2020 title, Run Sweetheart Run, as well the latest from filmmaker Natasha Kermani (who recently helmed Imitation Girl), entitled Lucky, and The Void co-director Steven Kostanski’s latest gore-fest, PG (Psycho Goreman).
Other featured Midnighters include Dembanger from John Berardo, Elle Callahan’s Witch Hunt, The Vigil from writer/director Keith Thomas, and the Belgian zombie flick, Yummy. Check out the full rundown to see all of this year’s Midnighters, which will play during SXSW 2020 this March.
Dembanger
Director: John Berardo, Screenwriters: John Berardo, Lindsay Lavanchy, Brian Frager
Ellery Scott's world unravels when her star athlete brother is murdered on campus amidst a brewing scandal,...
Other featured Midnighters include Dembanger from John Berardo, Elle Callahan’s Witch Hunt, The Vigil from writer/director Keith Thomas, and the Belgian zombie flick, Yummy. Check out the full rundown to see all of this year’s Midnighters, which will play during SXSW 2020 this March.
Dembanger
Director: John Berardo, Screenwriters: John Berardo, Lindsay Lavanchy, Brian Frager
Ellery Scott's world unravels when her star athlete brother is murdered on campus amidst a brewing scandal,...
- 2/6/2020
- by Heather Wixson
- DailyDead
The annual South by Southwest Conference and Festival is known for having a lineup of programming that makes Austin bust at the seams — and its slate for the 27th edition of the film festival isn’t any different. After already unveiling its initial roster of films, SXSW has now announced its lineup of Midnighters, Festival Favorites, Shorts, Episodic Pilots, Special Events and more.
SXSW Midnighters section is a favorite among festival-goers as it includes weird, electric, and sometimes terrifying selection of titles. Featuring 10 genre films, the Midnighters slate includes an array of dark comedies, thrillers, sci-fi, mystery and slasher pics with a mix of established and first-time filmmakers. With Midnighters and addition of Festival Favorites as well as 10 additional film, the SXSW Film Festival now has a robust 135 total features on its slate.
SXSW runs March 13-22. Below you can read additions to the 2020 SXSW Film Festival lineup. You can...
SXSW Midnighters section is a favorite among festival-goers as it includes weird, electric, and sometimes terrifying selection of titles. Featuring 10 genre films, the Midnighters slate includes an array of dark comedies, thrillers, sci-fi, mystery and slasher pics with a mix of established and first-time filmmakers. With Midnighters and addition of Festival Favorites as well as 10 additional film, the SXSW Film Festival now has a robust 135 total features on its slate.
SXSW runs March 13-22. Below you can read additions to the 2020 SXSW Film Festival lineup. You can...
- 2/5/2020
- by Dino-Ray Ramos
- Deadline Film + TV
Tiff Midnight Madness breakout has already scored deals in key European territories.
Elle Driver has acquired international sales rights to Us director Keith Thomas’s buzzed-about supernatural horror The Vigil, revolving around the Jewish custom of shemira, or watching over the corpse of a recently deceased person ahead of their burial.
Under the seven-figure deal, the Paris-based company is selling the world aside from the Us, which is being handled by CAA Media Finance.
Elle Driver has already scored deals in the key European territories of Spain (Vertigo), France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Italy (Bim) and Germany (Wild Bunch Germany).
The...
Elle Driver has acquired international sales rights to Us director Keith Thomas’s buzzed-about supernatural horror The Vigil, revolving around the Jewish custom of shemira, or watching over the corpse of a recently deceased person ahead of their burial.
Under the seven-figure deal, the Paris-based company is selling the world aside from the Us, which is being handled by CAA Media Finance.
Elle Driver has already scored deals in the key European territories of Spain (Vertigo), France (Wild Bunch Distribution), Italy (Bim) and Germany (Wild Bunch Germany).
The...
- 10/25/2019
- by 1100380¦Melanie Goodfellow¦0¦
- ScreenDaily
The concept of the horror film ‘The Vigil” is enough to get your blood pumping, but star Dave Davis also had some eerie experiences reading the script for it.
“The script itself was haunted,” Davis told TheWrap’s Steve Pond at the Toronto International Film Festival. “I didn’t know what a wolf spider was and I’m reading this one scene where a wolf spider crawls cross my character’s foot and not three minutes later, the biggest spider I had ever seen, which was a wolf spider, was on the wall behind me. That was just one of the first of many weird things that happened to me while reading the script. That script was later banned from my house!’
“The Vigil” was written and directed by Keith Thomas and also stars Menashe Lustig and Malky Goldman. It is about a man who watches over a deceased member of the Orthodox Jewish community,...
“The script itself was haunted,” Davis told TheWrap’s Steve Pond at the Toronto International Film Festival. “I didn’t know what a wolf spider was and I’m reading this one scene where a wolf spider crawls cross my character’s foot and not three minutes later, the biggest spider I had ever seen, which was a wolf spider, was on the wall behind me. That was just one of the first of many weird things that happened to me while reading the script. That script was later banned from my house!’
“The Vigil” was written and directed by Keith Thomas and also stars Menashe Lustig and Malky Goldman. It is about a man who watches over a deceased member of the Orthodox Jewish community,...
- 9/20/2019
- by Beatrice Verhoeven
- The Wrap
Jewish superstition has been riddled with dybbuks and golems for centuries, but horror movies haven’t wised up to it nearly enough. “The Vigil” is proof that bible-thumping priests and haunted convents can’t have all the spooky fun. In director Keith Thomas’s eerie first feature “The Vigil,” a young man estranged from the Orthodox Jewish community of Borough Park, Brooklyn, agrees to fulfill the duties of a “shomer,” the ritualistic practice of looking after a dead body over the course of one night. Desperate for rent money, he agrees, unwittingly signing up for a long night with a possessed corpse.
The ensuing mayhem relies on the usual preponderance of jump scares, but Thomas combines those moments with aplomb and surprising thematic depth. Set almost exclusively within the confines of the shadowy home, . And if “Conjuring” owner Warner Bros. doesn’t ingest its lore, Thomas has ample potential for...
The ensuing mayhem relies on the usual preponderance of jump scares, but Thomas combines those moments with aplomb and surprising thematic depth. Set almost exclusively within the confines of the shadowy home, . And if “Conjuring” owner Warner Bros. doesn’t ingest its lore, Thomas has ample potential for...
- 9/12/2019
- by Eric Kohn
- Indiewire
Billed as a “Jewish horror movie,” Keith Thomas’ “The Vigil” doesn’t dive very deep into theology or even specific traditional superstitions in its tale of a long night for a protagonist watching over a recently deceased Orthodox man’s body. Nonetheless, the cultural context adds novelty to . A first feature for novelist-turned-director-scenarist Keith Thomas, this has modest prospects likely to play out primarily in home formats, but the unusual slant on genre themes could spur interest from viewers not normally attracted to horror films.
Yakov (Dave Davis) is a young man we first meet in a Brooklyn support group for those who’ve left close-knit Hasidic communities and are taking baby steps into an unfamiliar secular society. He appears more fragile than most, having made his break in part (we eventually learn) due to a little brother’s death that left him guilt-plagued and traumatized. As yet unemployed, cash-poor...
Yakov (Dave Davis) is a young man we first meet in a Brooklyn support group for those who’ve left close-knit Hasidic communities and are taking baby steps into an unfamiliar secular society. He appears more fragile than most, having made his break in part (we eventually learn) due to a little brother’s death that left him guilt-plagued and traumatized. As yet unemployed, cash-poor...
- 9/10/2019
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
MaryAnn’s quick take… A bittersweet, deeply human tale, one with a documentary sense of discovery to its setting: a little seen, highly insular ultraorthodox Jewish community. I’m “biast” (pro): nothing
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
There’s a word in Yiddish to describe the sadsack widower at the center of Menashe: schlemiel. A schlemiel isn’t a bad person, but merely one who’s clumsy, inept, a bit of a slob. (No one says the word here, but you can almost see them thinking it in their rolled eyes and their just barely contained polite tolerance for his oafish antics.) It makes the task of winning back custody of his son, nine-year-old Rieven (Ruben Niborsk), much trickier for grocery-store worker Menashe (Menashe Lustig). His ultraorthodox Jewish rabbi (Meyer Schwartz) insists that Menashe remarry before he can...
I’m “biast” (con): nothing
(what is this about? see my critic’s minifesto)
There’s a word in Yiddish to describe the sadsack widower at the center of Menashe: schlemiel. A schlemiel isn’t a bad person, but merely one who’s clumsy, inept, a bit of a slob. (No one says the word here, but you can almost see them thinking it in their rolled eyes and their just barely contained polite tolerance for his oafish antics.) It makes the task of winning back custody of his son, nine-year-old Rieven (Ruben Niborsk), much trickier for grocery-store worker Menashe (Menashe Lustig). His ultraorthodox Jewish rabbi (Meyer Schwartz) insists that Menashe remarry before he can...
- 12/13/2017
- by MaryAnn Johanson
- www.flickfilosopher.com
A Yiddish drama set in a Hasidic Jewish community unpicks patriarchal power politics with a powerful central turn from non-professional Menashe Lustig
Menashe is a deeply felt and absorbing Yiddish-language drama about New York Hasidic Jews. Director Joshua Weinstein expertly seals you in a self-enclosed world whose drama, but for a few plot points concerning an elderly mobile phone, could as well be happening 50 or 100 years ago.
Menashe (played by non-professional Menashe Lustig) is an overweight, shambling widower who works in a convenience store and who has clearly let himself go, though he may not have been all that svelte and presentable in the first place. According to religious rules enforced by the rabbi, Menashe’s young son may not live with him until Menashe remarries; the boy has to stay with his late wife’s disapproving, controlling brother who takes a dim view of Menashe’s chaotic lifestyle and...
Menashe is a deeply felt and absorbing Yiddish-language drama about New York Hasidic Jews. Director Joshua Weinstein expertly seals you in a self-enclosed world whose drama, but for a few plot points concerning an elderly mobile phone, could as well be happening 50 or 100 years ago.
Menashe (played by non-professional Menashe Lustig) is an overweight, shambling widower who works in a convenience store and who has clearly let himself go, though he may not have been all that svelte and presentable in the first place. According to religious rules enforced by the rabbi, Menashe’s young son may not live with him until Menashe remarries; the boy has to stay with his late wife’s disapproving, controlling brother who takes a dim view of Menashe’s chaotic lifestyle and...
- 12/7/2017
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Menashe Lustig in the film Alex Lipschultz: 'We definitely had conversations with Menashe and other performers in the film about if there would be or could be serious repercussions for them about being in this movie and what those might be and if they were really prepared for that, should it come' Menashe – which premiered at Sundance in January – finally makes it to UK cinema screens this week. The film, sees documentarian and cinematographer Josh Z Weinstein turn his hand to fictional direction, although the story is firmly rooted in truth. Co-written with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed, the story draws heavily on the real life of its Hasidic Jewish star Menashe Lustig. He plays the character of the same name who, following the death of his wife, begins to fight within the community to retain custody of his son, who rules dictate must live with his brother-in-law until he remarries.
- 12/7/2017
- by Amber Wilkinson
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Our resident VOD expert tells you what's new to rent and/or own this week via various Digital HD providers such as cable Movies On Demand, Amazon, iTunes, Vudu, Google Play and, of course, Netflix. Cable Movies On Demand: Same-day-as-disc releases, older titles and pretheatrical Spider-Man: Homecoming (umpteenth superhero-franchise reboot; Tom Holland, Zendaya, Michael Keaton, Bokeem Woodbine, Tyne Daly, Marisa Tomei, Robert Downey Jr.; rated PG-13) Girls Trip (comedy; Regina Hall, Tiffany Haddish, Larenz Tate, Mike Colter, Kate Walsh, Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah; rated R) Lady Macbeth (romantic drama; Florence Pugh, Cosmo Jarvis; rated R) Menashe (drama; Menashe Lustig, Ruben Niborski; rated PG) Step (documentary about an inner-city Baltimore dance team...
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- 10/17/2017
- by Robert B. DeSalvo
- Movies.com
In 2017, we’ve seen five specialized subtitled films gross over $1 million. But the languages aren’t French, or German, or from anywhere in western Europe: The winners are Turkish, Farsi, Yiddish, and Hebrew.
These films came from Turkey, Iran, Israel, and even the United States, and played at conventional “art house” theaters (as opposed to releases from India, China, Mexico, and elsewhere, which aim at ethnically similar audiences).
Once upon a time, $100 million and more (in adjusted grosses) was possible for films like “La Dolce Vita,” “Life Is Beautiful,” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”: more recently, “Amelie,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and “The Motorcycle Diaries” easily surpassed $20 million. However, over the last few decades we’ve seen the subtitled market shift from decline to near collapse.
Read More:Why French Cinema Faces an Uncertain Future in America
What happened this year shows some revival in the market, but with some twists.
These films came from Turkey, Iran, Israel, and even the United States, and played at conventional “art house” theaters (as opposed to releases from India, China, Mexico, and elsewhere, which aim at ethnically similar audiences).
Once upon a time, $100 million and more (in adjusted grosses) was possible for films like “La Dolce Vita,” “Life Is Beautiful,” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”: more recently, “Amelie,” “Pan’s Labyrinth,” and “The Motorcycle Diaries” easily surpassed $20 million. However, over the last few decades we’ve seen the subtitled market shift from decline to near collapse.
Read More:Why French Cinema Faces an Uncertain Future in America
What happened this year shows some revival in the market, but with some twists.
- 9/20/2017
- by Tom Brueggemann
- Indiewire
What kind of man is Menashe? A valid question, considering his own initial apparent fluidity on the rigidity of his own cultural rules and restrictions. In a deeply sensitive portrayal by the talented Menashe Lustig in his debut role, the film tells the story of a down-on-his-luck widower who’s bucking the rules of his devoutly Hasidic Jewish culture in his efforts to retain custody of his adolescent son. The arbitrators of his insular modern-day community, nestled in the beating heart of New York City, have deemed him an incapable father, an unmotivated nonstarter, and a directionless slob. Never mind that he only wants to raise his son… What if they're right?? Also, there are rules. Including a big rule, stating that a child must be...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
[Read the whole post on screenanarchy.com...]...
- 8/25/2017
- Screen Anarchy
As the Summer season winds down, a new independent flick enters the box office arena concerning the challenges of single parenting. Oh, and this is from a male viewpoint, but it’s not a heart-tugging comedy that will make moviegoers recall The Courtship Of Eddie’S Father (the flick with Glenn Ford or the TV version with Bill Bixby), which helped inspire several sitcoms like “Bachelor Father” and “My Three Sons”. Yes, it’s about a widower, thought its main concern isn’t the search for a new mate (it does factor in a bit). The film is set in New York, but its language gives the story a decided foreign feel. Most of the dialogue (about 95%) is in Yiddish, as the world of Brooklyn’s ultra-orthodox Jewish community is the home of a man (well, almost a Mensch) named Menashe.
The story begins in the bustling early morning hours...
The story begins in the bustling early morning hours...
- 8/25/2017
- by Jim Batts
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Chicago – We all belong to something, be it a family, workplace, congregation or (expansively) a tribe. But within all that belonging is a sometimes nagging feeling of being an outsider. There is not a human being in existence that hasn’t felt that way, and a new film expresses that feeling in “Menashe.”
Rating: 4.0/5.0
The title is a character, a Hasidic Orthodox Jewish man whose wife had died, and due to tribal/religious tradition has lost the right to care for his son. He is the outsider in a very strict religious order, with a dogma that affects virtually every element of his difficult life. In another world, that type of individual would simply walk away, but within this closed society Menashe fights to exist and express, often taking matters destructively into his own hands. The film is unique, funny, sad and wise, plus gives audience outsiders a glimpse into...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
The title is a character, a Hasidic Orthodox Jewish man whose wife had died, and due to tribal/religious tradition has lost the right to care for his son. He is the outsider in a very strict religious order, with a dogma that affects virtually every element of his difficult life. In another world, that type of individual would simply walk away, but within this closed society Menashe fights to exist and express, often taking matters destructively into his own hands. The film is unique, funny, sad and wise, plus gives audience outsiders a glimpse into...
- 8/15/2017
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Before making the film Menashe, documentarian Joshua Weinstein donned a yarmulke and explored Brooklyn’s Borough Park, getting to know the stories and personalities of New York’s Hasidic Jews. That was the easy part of the process. It was trickier when Weinstein returned to the neighborhood with a camera crew to work with the locals he’d hired for his cast. In this insular society—which for the most part has kept itself purposefully cut off from popular culture—the whole Menashe project seemed morally suspect. Weinstein reportedly lost locations and actors as the shoot went on, and left some people’s names out of the credits so that they wouldn’t bring shame to their families.
Throughout, the movie’s key collaborator remained steadfast. And thank goodness he did. Menashe Lustig brings warmth and a lumpen charisma to Menashe’s lead role, giving life to a film based...
Throughout, the movie’s key collaborator remained steadfast. And thank goodness he did. Menashe Lustig brings warmth and a lumpen charisma to Menashe’s lead role, giving life to a film based...
- 7/27/2017
- by Noel Murray
- avclub.com
Menashe Director: Joshua Z. Weinstein Written by: Joshua Z. Weinstein, Alex Lipschulz, Musa Syeed Cast: Menashe Lustig, Ruben Niborski, Yoel Weisshau, Meyer Schwartz Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 7/24/17 Opens: July 28, 2017 When Rabbi Menachem Schneerson died in 1994, people asked me whether I had gone to his funeral. Schneerson, whom some in his […]
The post Menashe Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Menashe Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/25/2017
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
We're only at the year's halfway mark, but July is quickly shaping up to be the best moviegoing month of 2017: There are blockbusters lighthearted (Spidey's back yet again, and Sony swears they've cracked the formula this time) and solemn (Chris Nolan goes to war with Harry Styles in tow). Do you like your sci-fi weird (monkey in a tank!) or extra-weird (sentient brains!)? Indie types can check out an urgent new doc on Syria, a groundbreaking Yiddish-language drama or a British period piece-cum-feminist revenge thriller metaphysical drama. See, there...
- 6/30/2017
- Rollingstone.com
A24 cemented its perception as the new-model indie distributor when Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” won three Oscars, including that dramatic best-picture win. So what does the upstart indie, hailed for holding the skeleton key that unlocks the precious millennial demo, do for an encore?
The Tribeca Film Festival showcased two upcoming A24 releases, both of which seem oddly retro: World War II costume drama “The Exception,” starring Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer as Kaiser Wilhelm II, and “The Lovers,” starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts as an unhappy older married couple. They also dropped the trailer for Yiddish-language Hasidic family drama “Menashe” and suddenly, the new boss looks a lot like the old one.
What gives? This older-demo arthouse trio could easily carry the signature blue-and-white logo of venerable specialty distributor Sony Pictures Classics. But don’t be deceived by appearances. A24 is a far cry from older-generation studio indies like Spc and Fox Searchlight,...
The Tribeca Film Festival showcased two upcoming A24 releases, both of which seem oddly retro: World War II costume drama “The Exception,” starring Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer as Kaiser Wilhelm II, and “The Lovers,” starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts as an unhappy older married couple. They also dropped the trailer for Yiddish-language Hasidic family drama “Menashe” and suddenly, the new boss looks a lot like the old one.
What gives? This older-demo arthouse trio could easily carry the signature blue-and-white logo of venerable specialty distributor Sony Pictures Classics. But don’t be deceived by appearances. A24 is a far cry from older-generation studio indies like Spc and Fox Searchlight,...
- 4/27/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Indiewire
A24 cemented its perception as the new-model indie distributor when Barry Jenkins’ “Moonlight” won three Oscars, including that dramatic best-picture win. So what does the upstart indie, hailed for holding the skeleton key that unlocks the precious millennial demo, do for an encore?
The Tribeca Film Festival showcased three upcoming A24 releases, all of which seem oddly retro. There’s Yiddish-language Hasidic family drama “Menashe,” World War II costume drama “The Exception,” starring Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer as Kaiser Wilhelm II, and “The Lovers,” starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts as an unhappy older married couple. Suddenly, the new boss looks a lot like the old one.
What gives? This older-demo arthouse trio could easily carry the signature blue-and-white logo of venerable specialty distributor Sony Pictures Classics. But don’t be deceived by appearances. A24 is a far cry from older-generation studio indies like Spc and Fox Searchlight, which tend to follow an established playbook.
The Tribeca Film Festival showcased three upcoming A24 releases, all of which seem oddly retro. There’s Yiddish-language Hasidic family drama “Menashe,” World War II costume drama “The Exception,” starring Oscar-winner Christopher Plummer as Kaiser Wilhelm II, and “The Lovers,” starring Debra Winger and Tracy Letts as an unhappy older married couple. Suddenly, the new boss looks a lot like the old one.
What gives? This older-demo arthouse trio could easily carry the signature blue-and-white logo of venerable specialty distributor Sony Pictures Classics. But don’t be deceived by appearances. A24 is a far cry from older-generation studio indies like Spc and Fox Searchlight, which tend to follow an established playbook.
- 4/27/2017
- by Anne Thompson
- Thompson on Hollywood
Chris here. It's worth remembering as we head toward the clanging of the summer movie season that we will have some quieter cinematic treasures ahead to cleanse our palettes. One of my most anticipated is Sundance favorite Menashe, which Nathaniel recently reviewed.
Menashe stars Menashe Lustig (loosely portraying himself) as a newly widowered father trying to regain custody of his son in their very conservative Hasidic Jewish community. If that sounds a little maudlin, the film promises to be balanced by humor and authenticity, as it stars actual residents of the Brooklyn neighborhood it depicts. The film will be the first non-English language film for distributor A24 - good to see their Oscar triumph with Moonlight isn't making them shy away from the tough sell, not to mention their commitment to new American voices like Menashe director Joshua Z. Weinstein.
The film's first trailer just dropped, and it is delicate...
Menashe stars Menashe Lustig (loosely portraying himself) as a newly widowered father trying to regain custody of his son in their very conservative Hasidic Jewish community. If that sounds a little maudlin, the film promises to be balanced by humor and authenticity, as it stars actual residents of the Brooklyn neighborhood it depicts. The film will be the first non-English language film for distributor A24 - good to see their Oscar triumph with Moonlight isn't making them shy away from the tough sell, not to mention their commitment to new American voices like Menashe director Joshua Z. Weinstein.
The film's first trailer just dropped, and it is delicate...
- 4/20/2017
- by Chris Feil
- FilmExperience
Opening in Beverly Hills on April 26 and continuing to May 3, the Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival will showcase contemporary and classic films highlighting the best in Jewish Cinema.Of the 27 films showing, 14 are Los Angeles premieres. One World Premiere, one North American Premiere and one U.S. Premiere make for some great discoveries.
An opportunity for film lovers to celebrate the rich tapestry of Jewish history, Jewish heritage and Jewish characters, the Opening Night Red Carpet Reception at Laemmle’s Ahrya Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills evening will honor one of the entertainment industry’s most beloved figures, Ed Asner, with the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary “My Friend Ed”, directed by Sharon Baker and executive produced by Liza Asner.
For his distinguished body of work as an actor, and for his relentless commitment to activism and to preserving Jewish life.
Ed Asner
You know him best as Lou Grant,...
An opportunity for film lovers to celebrate the rich tapestry of Jewish history, Jewish heritage and Jewish characters, the Opening Night Red Carpet Reception at Laemmle’s Ahrya Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills evening will honor one of the entertainment industry’s most beloved figures, Ed Asner, with the Los Angeles premiere of the documentary “My Friend Ed”, directed by Sharon Baker and executive produced by Liza Asner.
For his distinguished body of work as an actor, and for his relentless commitment to activism and to preserving Jewish life.
Ed Asner
You know him best as Lou Grant,...
- 4/20/2017
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
The road to a respectable life is a demanding one for Menashe. He barely makes enough money as a grocery clerk to pay the rent of his small apartment. He is shunned by his family, neighbors, and boss for not conforming to the customary way of life. He’s in danger of losing complete custody of his son following the death of his wife. While aspects of this logline could be the basis for more than a few character studies each year, Menashe sets itself apart by its striking specificity, taking place in an ultra-orthodox Hasidic Jewish community of Brooklyn and performed completely in Yiddish.
Picked up by A24 following its Sundance premiere, the first trailer has now arrived for the summer release, including a quote from our review. I said, “Director and co-writer Joshua Z Weinstein understands that this entry point into the story must be more than just that and crafts an intimate,...
Picked up by A24 following its Sundance premiere, the first trailer has now arrived for the summer release, including a quote from our review. I said, “Director and co-writer Joshua Z Weinstein understands that this entry point into the story must be more than just that and crafts an intimate,...
- 4/20/2017
- by Jordan Raup
- The Film Stage
"Think about what's best for your son." A24 has debuted an official trailer for the acclaimed indie drama titled Menashe, a very unique film set entirely within Brooklyn's ultra-orthodox Jewish community. The film tells the story of a widowed father of a young son, struggling to make ends meet and stay in his kid's life. His Rabbi has required that his son live with his strict uncle's family, but Menashe is given one more week to prove he's a capable parent. Starring Menashe Lustig as Menashe, and Ruben Nyborg. This was filmed in secret in the neighborhood, and is one of the few films that is entirely in Yiddish, preserving the integrity of the culture it's portraying. This is a good gem to seek out, and has a tender, charming side to it. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Joshua Z. Weinstein's Menashe, direct from A24's YouTube: Within Brooklyn's ultra-orthodox Jewish community,...
- 4/19/2017
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Exclusive: Vertigo snaps up rights to drama set in ultra-orthodox Jewish community.
Vertigo has snapped up UK rights to Sundance and Berlin hit Menashe from Mongrel International.
Joshua Z Weinstein’s debut feature, starring Menashe Lustig, was shot covertly within the New York Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn over two years.
The film follows the life of actor Menashe Lustig, a loving but hapless single father who tries to maintain custody of his son in a tradition-bound culture that requires a mother present in every home.
The Yiddish-language feature was the first foreign language film picked up by Us distributor A24, which also secured Chinese rights to the film.
As previously revealed by Screen, the film recently sold to France, Australia and Canada.
Weinstein wrote the script with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed.
Alex Lipschultz, Traci Carlson, Danny Finkelman, Weinstein and Yoni Brook produced, with Danelle Eliav, Adam Margules, Chris Columbus and [link...
Vertigo has snapped up UK rights to Sundance and Berlin hit Menashe from Mongrel International.
Joshua Z Weinstein’s debut feature, starring Menashe Lustig, was shot covertly within the New York Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn over two years.
The film follows the life of actor Menashe Lustig, a loving but hapless single father who tries to maintain custody of his son in a tradition-bound culture that requires a mother present in every home.
The Yiddish-language feature was the first foreign language film picked up by Us distributor A24, which also secured Chinese rights to the film.
As previously revealed by Screen, the film recently sold to France, Australia and Canada.
Weinstein wrote the script with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed.
Alex Lipschultz, Traci Carlson, Danny Finkelman, Weinstein and Yoni Brook produced, with Danelle Eliav, Adam Margules, Chris Columbus and [link...
- 3/24/2017
- by andreas.wiseman@screendaily.com (Andreas Wiseman)
- ScreenDaily
The Summer Is GoneOne of the greater pleasures of New Directors/New Films, the yearly collaboration in New York between the Film Society of Lincoln Center and Museum of Modern Art, is reveling in the mystery of emerging directors. Of course, many and most festivals have offerings from first (and second and third time) directors, but at none is this explicitly the point. When a minimum of information is offered, save for a brief bio, relinquished is the burden of pre-viewing research and any expectations that may arise from it. More prominent titles have been covered by the Notebook already, but here are highlights from around the globe, from directors not-yet-known, though hopefully for not much longer. The Summer Is Gone echoes the ghosts of Edward Yang by locating drama in a particular moment in history, wedding personal histories to political ones. Set in inner Mongolia, the film throws back to the ever-receding 90s,...
- 3/14/2017
- MUBI
The Museum of Modern Art and the Film Society of Lincoln Center has today announces their complete lineup for the 46th annual New Directors/New Films (Nd/Nf), running March 15 – 26. Dedicated to the discovery of new works by emerging and dynamic filmmaking talent, this year’s festival will screen 29 features and nine short films. This year’s lineup boasts nine North American premieres, seven U.S. premieres, and two world premieres, with features and shorts from 32 countries across five continents.
The opening, centerpiece, and closing night selections showcase three exciting new voices in American independent cinema that all recently debuted at Sundance: Geremy Jasper’s “Patti Cake$” is the opening night pick, while Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” is the centerpiece selection and Dustin Guy Defa will close the festival with “Person to Person.” Other standouts include “Menashe,” “My Happy Family,” “Quest” and “The Wound.”
Read More: The Sundance Rebel:...
The opening, centerpiece, and closing night selections showcase three exciting new voices in American independent cinema that all recently debuted at Sundance: Geremy Jasper’s “Patti Cake$” is the opening night pick, while Eliza Hittman’s “Beach Rats” is the centerpiece selection and Dustin Guy Defa will close the festival with “Person to Person.” Other standouts include “Menashe,” “My Happy Family,” “Quest” and “The Wound.”
Read More: The Sundance Rebel:...
- 2/15/2017
- by Kate Erbland
- Indiewire
Exclusive: Mongrel International closes key territories on the Yiddish-language Sundance hit, which screens at Berlinale Forum.
Toronto-based Mongrel international has closed key territories on Yiddish-language Berlin Film Festival Forum selection and recent Sundance world premiere Menashe.
Sophie Dulac Distribution has acquired the drama for France and Rialto has taken rights for Australia and New Zealand. Mongrel Media has acquired Canadian rights.
Mongrel International chief Charlotte Mickie said a sale is pending in Scandinavia and reported “high interest” from the UK, Israel, Switzerland, Germany and Japan.
Menashe screens in Berlin on Sunday and centres on a single father from Brooklyn’s ultra-orthodox Hasidic community who struggles to secure custody of his young son.
A24 recently acquired Us rights to Joshua Z Weinstein’s feature directorial debut, which stars Menashe Lustig and Ruben Niborski.
Weinstein wrote the script with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed.
Lipschultz, Traci Carlson, Danny Finkelman, Weinstein and Yoni Brook produced and executive producers are [link...
Toronto-based Mongrel international has closed key territories on Yiddish-language Berlin Film Festival Forum selection and recent Sundance world premiere Menashe.
Sophie Dulac Distribution has acquired the drama for France and Rialto has taken rights for Australia and New Zealand. Mongrel Media has acquired Canadian rights.
Mongrel International chief Charlotte Mickie said a sale is pending in Scandinavia and reported “high interest” from the UK, Israel, Switzerland, Germany and Japan.
Menashe screens in Berlin on Sunday and centres on a single father from Brooklyn’s ultra-orthodox Hasidic community who struggles to secure custody of his young son.
A24 recently acquired Us rights to Joshua Z Weinstein’s feature directorial debut, which stars Menashe Lustig and Ruben Niborski.
Weinstein wrote the script with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed.
Lipschultz, Traci Carlson, Danny Finkelman, Weinstein and Yoni Brook produced and executive producers are [link...
- 2/9/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
The New York-based distributor has made its first foreign-language acquisition.
A24 has picked up Us and Chinese rights to Joshua Z Weinstein’s Berlin-bound Menashe, which will receive its international premiere at the Berlinale after debuting in Park City last week in the Next section.
The distributor plans a traditional theatrical roll-out later this year on the Shtick Film drama, a rare beast that shot almost entirely in Yiddish in secret within the New York Hasidic community in Brooklyn.
The film is loosely based on the real life of actor Menashe Lustig and centres on a loving single father who tries to maintain custody of his son in a culture that requires a mother present in every home.
“Our entire company has fallen in love with this magical and beautiful film,” A24 said. “Filmmaker Joshua Z Weinstein has done an incredible job of presenting the movie’s unique setting with great authenticity and fresh insights, but at the...
A24 has picked up Us and Chinese rights to Joshua Z Weinstein’s Berlin-bound Menashe, which will receive its international premiere at the Berlinale after debuting in Park City last week in the Next section.
The distributor plans a traditional theatrical roll-out later this year on the Shtick Film drama, a rare beast that shot almost entirely in Yiddish in secret within the New York Hasidic community in Brooklyn.
The film is loosely based on the real life of actor Menashe Lustig and centres on a loving single father who tries to maintain custody of his son in a culture that requires a mother present in every home.
“Our entire company has fallen in love with this magical and beautiful film,” A24 said. “Filmmaker Joshua Z Weinstein has done an incredible job of presenting the movie’s unique setting with great authenticity and fresh insights, but at the...
- 1/31/2017
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
A24 has acquired the U.S. and Chinese Distribution rights to “Menashe,” which premiered on January 23 in the Sundance Film Festival’s Next section. The father-son drama was shot in secret within the New York Hasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn.
Read More: ‘Menashe’ Review: A Hasidic Community Sets the Stage for a Touching Father-Son Drama — Sundance 2017
Loosely based on the life of actor Menashe Lustig, the film follows a loving but hapless single father trying to maintain custody of his son in a culture that requires a mother in every household. First-time feature director Joshua Z. Weinstein wrote the script with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed after working as a documentarian and cinematographer. The movie is one of the first films to be performed almost entirely in Yiddish in nearly 70 years.
“Our cast took an extraordinary risk stepping outside the confines of their community to take part in this film,...
Read More: ‘Menashe’ Review: A Hasidic Community Sets the Stage for a Touching Father-Son Drama — Sundance 2017
Loosely based on the life of actor Menashe Lustig, the film follows a loving but hapless single father trying to maintain custody of his son in a culture that requires a mother in every household. First-time feature director Joshua Z. Weinstein wrote the script with Alex Lipschultz and Musa Syeed after working as a documentarian and cinematographer. The movie is one of the first films to be performed almost entirely in Yiddish in nearly 70 years.
“Our cast took an extraordinary risk stepping outside the confines of their community to take part in this film,...
- 1/31/2017
- by Graham Winfrey
- Indiewire
A24 has acquired U.S. and Chinese distribution rights to the drama Menashe after its premiere at the Sundance Film Festival.
Menashe is the company's first foreign-language release, and it plans a traditional theatrical rollout later this year.
Documentarian Joshua Z. Weinstein makes his narrative feature directorial debut with the title about an ultra-Orthodox Jewish widower at risk of losing his son due to strict religious tradition, which requires a mother present in every home. Roughly based on the life of actor Menashe Lustig, the drama is one of the first films to be performed almost entirely...
Menashe is the company's first foreign-language release, and it plans a traditional theatrical rollout later this year.
Documentarian Joshua Z. Weinstein makes his narrative feature directorial debut with the title about an ultra-Orthodox Jewish widower at risk of losing his son due to strict religious tradition, which requires a mother present in every home. Roughly based on the life of actor Menashe Lustig, the drama is one of the first films to be performed almost entirely...
- 1/31/2017
- by Ashley Lee
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Generally speaking, this year’s Sundance Film Festival was a very healthy marketplace that guaranteed many of its highlights will make it to audiences beyond the festival circuit soon. From heavy hitters like “The Big Sick” and “Mudbound” to discoveries like “Thoroughbred,” there was plenty of buyer interest spread throughout the lineup. As usual, though, plenty of worthy titles ended the festival with uncertain futures.
Read More: The 2017 IndieWire Sundance Bible: Every Review, Interview and News Item Posted During the Festival
Here are a few memorable ones that deserve distribution.
“Bitch”
There are plenty of stories about domestic housewives who grow tired of their oppressive routines, but none quite like Marianna Palka’s vicious feminist satire “Bitch,” in which the writer-director-star plays a woman who assumes the identity of a wild dog. It’s a blunt metaphor, but Palka transforms the absurd premise into a chilling look at the destruction...
Read More: The 2017 IndieWire Sundance Bible: Every Review, Interview and News Item Posted During the Festival
Here are a few memorable ones that deserve distribution.
“Bitch”
There are plenty of stories about domestic housewives who grow tired of their oppressive routines, but none quite like Marianna Palka’s vicious feminist satire “Bitch,” in which the writer-director-star plays a woman who assumes the identity of a wild dog. It’s a blunt metaphor, but Palka transforms the absurd premise into a chilling look at the destruction...
- 1/31/2017
- by David Ehrlich, Eric Kohn and Jude Dry
- Indiewire
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