Between the Temples

from the series Movie Corner…

4.5/5 Stars

Comedy/Drama/ Romance
Sony Pictures Classics

By HOWARD MCQUITTER II

A quadragenarian cantor at a synagogue is burdened with sadness and even suicidal tendencies after his wife’s death. (Her cause of death is revealed later in the film.) His name is Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman) and he lives in the basement of his mother’s (Caroline Aaron) house along with her partner Judith (Dolly De Leon). Both his mother Meira Gottlieb and Judith are hoping Ben moves out of their house soon. Ben ‘s depression is not only from his wife’s death but he has lost his singing voice.
What happens next for Ben is serendipitous when he meets Carla Kessler (Carol Kane) at a bar. A patron has just punched Ben for his abrasive behavior. She lends a hand to Ben which in turn spawns a friendship. She’s much older than him which doesn’t seem to matter to him. Carla realizes she’s seeing a man in deep grief and in a crisis of his faith.

At first or second glance Between the Temples seems like the film could have been directed by Richard Linklater – Dazed and Confused (1993), Boyhood (2014) or Wes Anderson – Rushmore (1998) and The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014).… Read the rest “Between the Temples”