Between the Temples

Ben, a forty-something cantor, is losing his voice and possibly also his faith. As he struggles to live up to the expectations of his rabbi, his congregation and not one but two Jewish mothers, an old acquaintance suddenly comes back into his life: the spirited Carla, his music teacher from primary school who becomes his later-life Bat Mitzvah student. Perhaps she will provide the mid-life jolt he didn’t even realise he needed? Their unexpected but increasingly close connection is threatened by two external factors: Carla’s son, who is deeply suspicious of his mother’s newfound religiosity; and Gabby, who also seems to be vying for Ben’s affection. Nathan Silver’s warm and anxious comedy explores the inconstancies of faith and the question of what it means to be a real mensch.

Directed by Nathan Silver

2024 | USA | English language | DCP

Rated R