Customer Reviews

Next Year in Jerusalem [VHS]

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

While the production value of this film is questionable, the writting is very solid. It tells a difficult story about difficult issues and treats these issues pretty well. Considering that this is the director's first try he had done a very good job. I have to question the review about this film needing a shower and a change of clothes, I can not imagine that this person actually watched the film.

This beautifully written story has some problems due to it's ultra low budget. The camera work is not very good, some of the acting is spotty. But former porn queen Georgina Spelvin, the two male leads and the girl who plays the Rabbi's daughter are superb. Some may find this hard to sit thru due to the camerawork, but the story and script are so well executed, that this is forgivable. I believe the director also wrote this. I'd like to see what he can do with a real budget, and a real crew.

There is perhaps no other film like this: a completely honest and unpretentious look at what it means to be at odds with your own identity. Almost documentary-like in its simple cinemagraphic style and highlighted and underlined by post-modern singer-songwriter Richard Barone's brilliant score, "Next Year in Jerusalem" succeeds because the focus never leavesthe plight of the two protagonists: one closeted because of his gayness, but open about his Jewishness, the other comfortable with his sexuality, but a closeted Jew. A film in which compassion wins out

While some of the acting and production values may illicit chuckles, the film really nails the feelings of a religious person recognizing the 'unacceptable' in themselves and learning to live with and accept it

This is perhaps the cheapest looking film I've seen since Plan 9 From Outer Space---but this is no Ed Wood film. There's some real talent here. A deeply moving story of two gay orthodox Jews in love, one in the closet about being Jewish, and the other in the closet about being gay, this no budget production is saved by a brilliantly written story and fine acting by the leads. This is simply one of the best scripts in years, and it's a shame the producers couldn't raise the funds needed to shoot it properly. A smart film with heart!