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November 30, 1999
January 1, 2004
New Line Home Video
PG (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Giddi Dar
Shuli Rand, Michal Bat-Sheva Rand, Shaul Mizrahi, Ilan Ganani, Avraham Abutboul, Yonathan Danino, Daniel Dayan, Michael Vaigel, Daniel Rand, Yizhak Levkovits, Shmuel Ovadia
A cinematic fable set in the orthodox Jewish world, Ushpizin follows a poor childless devout man named Moshe (Shuli Rand) and his wife Malli (Michal Bat Sheva Rand, Shuli's real-life spouse) who can't afford a succah, the temporary dwelling required by the Succoth holiday. Suddenly a friend helps them find a succah and an anonymous donation rescues them from debt; Moshe believes the Lord has smiled on him at last and celebrates by buying a particularly beautiful citron (a lemon-like fruit) for the Succoth observations. But when a couple of escaped convicts appear--one of whom knows Moshe from his old neighborhood--they insinuate themselves into Moshe and Malli's hospitality and quickly abuse it, threatening the couple's marriage and testing their faith. Like many Jewish stories, Ushpizin balances an almost fairy-tale story with psychologically real characters (made all the more vivid thanks to the uniformly excellent performances) and complex social conflict. The movie provides a fascinating look into a closed community--though its insider's perspective may seem initially opaque to many viewers, the personalities and conflicts soon become accessible to anyone. A unique, intriguing film. --Bret Fetzer - Amazon.com
Winner of the 2004 Best Actor award at the 2004 Israeli Film Academy for writer-star Shuli Rand, Ushpizin is a heart warming and light hearted look at the daily lives of ultra-Orthodox Jews learning, living and loving in modern-day Israel. Following the story of a family facing hardships, they must rely on their faith for miracles to happen during the holiday season. Inspiring, heartwarming and uplifting, Ushpizin is a critically acclaimed film that regardless of faith or religion, everybody can enjoy. - Description
