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USHPIZIN
Rated: PG (Mature themes, Infrequent course languauge)
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 92 minutes
Tag Line: You see a lemon...they see a miracle
Language: Hebrew
Subtitles: English
Jerusalem. Moshe and Mali, a poor childless Orthodox couple, find themselves penniless on the eve of the Jewish holy day of Succoth.
As they both pray desperately to the Lord to help them, the impossible happens. Their prayers are heard and they receive an unexpected charitable donation. However, a miracle doesn't come without a test, as two escaped convicts appear uninvited on the couple's doorstep, friends from Moshe's shady secular past. Moshe and Mali believe it is another sign and that God will bless them with children if they follow the religious custom of receiving guests for the holy day (Ushpizin). They perceive the convicts as messengers, but God works in mysterious ways. The outrageous behavior of these unholy messengers and the havoc it brings to the Orthodox community will put Moshe and Mali's faith to the ultimate test.
Director's statement by Gidi Dar:-
'I did two films with Shuli in the past. He was the best actor I've worked with. Then he became ultra orthodox with the beard and the hat and the black and white clothes, and left the business. Eight years later I suggested to him that we should do another movie together. As we developed the story, it became clear to me that this film will be different.
I had to take a deep dive into the ultra orthodox experience, accept it for a while and its rules (in terms of what related to the film). I agreed to this because I knew this would be the only way I could have a good look into the very inside of this world, to which no camera had ever entered. An isolated world that lives by the rules of the Torah, revolving around the work of God.
My job was not to criticize them, but to tell a story about faith and a little test, that will show authentically the unique way my heroes see their lives. The lives of the believers the way they see themselves.
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| Director |
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Gidi Dar |
| Producer |
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Rafi Bukaee, Gidi Dar |
| Screenplay |
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Shalom Rand |
| Photographer |
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Amit Yasur |
| Main Cast |
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Shalom Rand |
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Michal Bat Sheva Rand |
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Shaul Mizrahi |
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Ilan Ganani |
LA Daily News
'One of the BEST charecter based comedies of the year' (Read Now)
Variety
'Groundbreaking... seriocomic tale' (Read Now)
Best Actor Israeli Film Awards 2004
Critics Award Jerusalem Film Festival 2004
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