Ha-Ushpizin (2004)

User Rating:

7.4/10   

Director:

Giddi Dar

Writer:

Shuli Rand (writer)

Release Date:

August 2004 (Israel)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

When you really need a miracle...

Plot:

An Orthodox Jewish couple's faith is tested after praying to the Lord for a child on the Succoth holiday.

Plot Keywords:

Rabbi | Pregnant | Festive | Jewish | Fortune

Awards:

1 win & 2 nominations

Cast

Shuli Rand	...	Moshe
Michal Bat-Sheva Rand	...	Malli Bellanga
Shaul Mizrahi	...	Eliyahu Scorpio
Ilan Ganani	...	Yossef
Avraham Abutboul	...	Ben Baruch
Yonathan Danino	...	Gabai
Rabbi Daniel Dayan	...	The Rabbi
Michael Vaigel	...	Ethrog Assessor
Daniel Rand	...	Elazar
Yizhak Levkovits	...	Charity
Shmuel Ovadia	...	Wolf

Also Known As:

Holy Guests (International: English title) (subtitle)
Ushpizin (International: English title)

MPAA:

Rated PG for mild thematic elements.

Runtime:

90 min

Country:

Israel

Language:

Hebrew | Yiddish

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Certification:

Brazil:14 | UK:PG | Australia:PG | Singapore:PG | USA:PG

Filming Locations:

Jerusalem, Israel

Trivia:

Shuli Rand had two conditions for making this movie, both were met. The first was that his real-life wife, Michal Bat-Sheva Rand, would play his wife in the film. The second is that in Israel the film would not be screened on the Jewish sabbath.

Quotes:

[from trailer]
Narrator: They worked out of luck, out of hope. And faith was all they had to hang on to. But on this holy week, where guests are considered a blessing, these two unexpected visitors bring with them: a secret from the past. A secret that would test their love and challenge their faith. Now only a miracle will turn their fortune around.

faith based and still good? i am as shocked as you.

This movie was great. i am not Jewish, have no Jewish friends, and really no great understanding of the faith. When i saw that i was seeing a movie the director called " deeply about faith", filmed on a totally kosher set and not allowed to be watched on the sabbath, i was preparing my self for a trip worse than Godzilla. But i was blown away. Shuli Rand is totally brilliant. This movie, as far as i am concerned, could be a vehicle for him and i would have loved it. I rarely see an actor that can let people half a world away feel the way they do about the world. I have no idea the real implacatons of the quoth, the holiday that the film takes place around, but i feel the importance just in how the lead actor holds a lemon. I was totally enthralled by this movie. The uplifting, god loving, faith inspiring aspects of film normally slide of my back because they are bad actors with bad scripts. This movie actually got the point of faith across better than i could imagine. What i mean is that Moshle ( Shuli, the lead) prays, and he revieves. Then you see why. A friend accidentally steals something he needs. Is this gods work, or dumb luck? the director and writer never answer, which makes for a much better ending. All i didn't like in the movie were a few simple things like bland direction, poor sense of time and an occasional lack of explanation.

but all and all, this is probably the best religious movie i have seen in quite some time, and i you like character acting above plot twists and effects, see this film.