Holy Rollers (2010)

In Brooklyn, a youth from an Orthodox Jewish community is lured into becoming an Ecstasy dealer by his pal who has ties to an Israeli drug cartel.

Director:

Kevin Asch

Writer:

Antonio Macia

Stars:

Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha, Ari Graynor

2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jesse Eisenberg	...	Sam Gold
Justin Bartha	...	Yosef Zimmerman
Ari Graynor	...	Rachel Apfel
Danny A. Abeckaser	...	Jackie Solomon
Mark Ivanir	...	Mendel Gold
Elizabeth Marvel	...	Elka Gold
Jason Fuchs	...	Leon Zimmerman
Q-Tip	...	Ephraim
Hallie Kate Eisenberg	...	Ruth Gold (as Hallie Eisenberg)
Bern Cohen	...	Rebbe Horowitz
Stella Keitel	...	Zeldy Lazar
David Vadim	...	Mr. Maxim
Charlie Hewson	...	Andrew (The Goy)
Penny Bittone	...	Ivan
Ori Pfeffer	...	Beni

Storyline

Inspired by a true story of a young Hasidic man who was lured into the world of international drug trafficking in the late 90s.

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Plot Keywords:

jewish | israeli | ecstasy | greed | jewish wedding | 

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Taglines:

In 1998, 1 million ecstasy pills were smuggled into the USA by a group of Hasidic Jews.

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Genres:

Biography | Crime | Drama | History

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for drug content and language throughout, and brief sexual material

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

23 December 2010 (Israel)

Also Known As:

Jewish Connection

Filming Locations:

84-06 106th Avenue, Ozone Park, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend:

$39,685 (USA) (21 May 2010)

Gross:

$302,886 (USA) (20 August 2010)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Deerjen Films, Lookbook Films, Safehouse Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

89 min

Color:

Color

Did You Know?

Trivia

Many of the extras in the film were Satmar Hasidim, who would spontaneously offer prayers and blessings at appropriate points in movie scenes, even though those were not scripted.

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Goofs

In a scene between Sam and Rachel in an apartment there is a more recently designed bottle of Vitaminwater on a table bar top (tropical citrus flavor?). As a site note, Glacéau's brand of VitaminWater was not distributed until the early 2000's which puts the product a few years off from when the film was meant to be depicted.

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Crazy Credits

The closing credits mention the ring was responsible for importing over a million "Ecstacy" pills (should be "Ecstasy")

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Connections

Referenced in The Rotten Tomatoes Show: Robin Hood/Letters to Juliet/Just Wright (2010)

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Soundtracks

"Darkness Before the Dawn"
Words and Music 'MJ Mynarski' and Paul Comaskey
Performed by Paul Comaskey
(c) 2009 24FrameScore

User Reviews

Sam Gold, Full Of Grace(?)

Within the last thirty years or so,independent cinema has certainly taken on a more respectable air in the annals of movie going. Film makers such as John Sayles,the Coen brothers,and other mavericks have made their mark among the sludge that constitutes main stream movies. Now we can add yet another name to that list:Kevin Asch,who previously directed one other film,'Characters' (unseen by me). Based on situations that transpired in 1998,'Holy Rollers',is a tale of two Hasidic Jews that unknowingly become drug mules for a collective of drug runners from Isreal. Sam Gold (played by Jesse Eisenberg,of 'The Squid & The Whale'fame)is a young man,working for his father's clothing business,until his family hopes (and prays)for Sam becoming a Rabbi someday. In trying to help out his family,financially,he is introduced by his next door neighbour,Yosef Zimmerman (played by Justin Bartha)to Jackie Soloman (Danny Abeckaser),a drug baron,who leads Sam down a one way path to impending doom,as a carrier of pills from Europe for rich "goys" (non Jews). Jackie is smooth (and slimy)enough to get Sam to do his bidding. Sam is smitten with Jackie's girl friend,Rachael Apfel (Ari Graynor),as well as a taste for the good life ('tho not until he is over his head). Others in the cast include Bern Cohen,Mark Ivanir,Halle Kate Eisenberg (Jesse's real life sister),and look out for a cameo/walk on by rapper,Q-Tip,as Ephrim,a fellow drug lord working in Holland. Kevin Asch directs from a screen play written by Antonio Macia. The films gritty cinematography is by Ben Kutchins,with editing by Suzanne Spangler. The film does (at times)resemble 'Maria,Full Of Grace',from a few years back (but don't let that steer you away from a well written,directed & acted film,such as this). Rated 'R' by the MPAA,this film contains strong language,drug references,and some brief sexual content. A film that could act as a warning to young Jews about the dangers of the drug trade,as well as a cautionary tale that could have been told by a Rabbi about swaying from the path.