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Loving Leah

  • TV Movie
  • 20092009
  • TV-PGTV-PG
  • 1h 35m
IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,047
3,396
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lauren Ambrose and Adam Kaufman in Loving Leah (2009)
Official Trailer
Play trailer0:33
1 Video
12 Photos
  • Drama
  • Romance

A quirky love story revolving around the unexpected wedding and unconventional married life of a 26-year-old widow and her late husband's brother, a handsome 30-year-old cardiologist.A quirky love story revolving around the unexpected wedding and unconventional married life of a 26-year-old widow and her late husband's brother, a handsome 30-year-old cardiologist.A quirky love story revolving around the unexpected wedding and unconventional married life of a 26-year-old widow and her late husband's brother, a handsome 30-year-old cardiologist.

IMDb RATING
7.0/10
3.3K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
2,047
3,396
  • Director
    • Jeff Bleckner
  • Writer
    • Pnenah Goldstein
  • Stars
    • Lauren Ambrose
    • Adam Kaufman
    • Susie Essman
Top credits
  • Director
    • Jeff Bleckner
  • Writer
    • Pnenah Goldstein
  • Stars
    • Lauren Ambrose
    • Adam Kaufman
    • Susie Essman
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 31User reviews
    • 4Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy
      • 5 nominations total

    Videos1

    Loving Leah
    Trailer 0:33
    Loving Leah

    Photos12

    Lauren Ambrose, Adam Kaufman, and Jessalyn Wanlim in Loving Leah (2009)
    Lauren Ambrose and Adam Kaufman in Loving Leah (2009)
    Adam Kaufman in Loving Leah (2009)
    Lauren Ambrose in Loving Leah (2009)
    Ricki Lake in Loving Leah (2009)
    Susie Essman in Loving Leah (2009)
    Mercedes Ruehl in Loving Leah (2009)
    Mercedes Ruehl and Lauren Ambrose in Loving Leah (2009)
    Lauren Ambrose in Loving Leah (2009)
    Lauren Ambrose in Loving Leah (2009)
    Loving Leah (2009)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lauren Ambrose
    Lauren Ambrose
    • Leah Leveras Leah Lever
    Adam Kaufman
    Adam Kaufman
    • Jake Leveras Jake Lever
    Susie Essman
    Susie Essman
    • Malkaas Malka
    Harris Yulin
    Harris Yulin
    • Rabbi Belskyas Rabbi Belsky
    Natasha Lyonne
    Natasha Lyonne
    • Estheras Esther
    Christy Pusz
    • Carolas Carol
    Ricki Lake
    Ricki Lake
    • Rabbi Gerryas Rabbi Gerry
    Mercedes Ruehl
    Mercedes Ruehl
    • Janice Leveras Janice Lever
    Tonye Patano
    Tonye Patano
    • Emilyas Emily
    Donnie Keshawarz
    Donnie Keshawarz
    • Rajas Raj
    Sylvia Kauders
    Sylvia Kauders
    • Widow Goldfarbas Widow Goldfarb
    Jayne Houdyshell
    Jayne Houdyshell
    • Mrs. Finkelmanas Mrs. Finkelman
    David Rossmer
    David Rossmer
    • Rabbi Benjamin Leveras Rabbi Benjamin Lever
    Tibor Feldman
    Tibor Feldman
    • Dr. Salowayas Dr. Saloway
    Jolly Abraham
    Jolly Abraham
    • Priyaas Priya
    Jonathan C. Kaplan
    • Feldmanas Feldman
    Zachary Knower
    Zachary Knower
    • Carmieas Carmie
    Matt Walton
    Matt Walton
    • Carteras Carter
    • Director
      • Jeff Bleckner
    • Writer
      • Pnenah Goldstein
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit
    When his estranged brother dies suddenly, Jake Lever is confronted with an old Jewish custom. In days past, a man was expected to marry his deceased brother's childless widow, but it is now customary to perform a ceremony releasing the pair from the obligation. During the Halizah ceremony, Jake feels uncomfortable renouncing his brother's memory. Additionally, Leah wishes to escape the confines of her orthodox community and avoid her mother's matchmaking. On the spur of the moment, Leah and Jake decide to enter into a platonic marriage of convenience. —L. Hamre
    • shul
    • levirate marriage
    • washington dc
    • boyfriend girlfriend relationship
    • cardiologist
    • 30 more
    • Plot summary
    • Add synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A love story that defies tradition.
    • Genres
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • TV-PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Loving Leah began as a play by P'nenah Goldstein and was brought to Hallmark by Ricki Lake, who also appears in a minor role in the film.
    • Goofs
      Georgetown is in Washington, DC, not a separate city.
    • Quotes

      Rabbi Belsky: In the days and weeks to come, when we think of Rabbi Lever, we may be compelled to ask God 'Why?" Why would a man so full of life in his prime be taken from his wife and his family? We come into this world with a purpose. And because death is so much a part of life, we come to see Benjamin's departure as a lesson which we must take as a gift. And in time, it will become apparent what his gift is to each of us.

    • Connections
      Edited into Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951)
    • Soundtracks
      Everything
      Written by Michael Bublé, Amy Foster-Gillies, and Alan Chang

      Performed by Michael Bublé

    User reviews31

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    A Butterfly Emerges from the Death of her Husband, True and Faithful
    I saw Loving Leah recently for the first time and a few times since. Lauren was faithful to the character throughout and nudged her "replacement husband" from his almost terrified responsibility to his deceased brother for the good of his brother's name and Leah. Jake seemed barely into the idea of marriage as it turned another relationship upside down in a way that was slightly comical as Jake squirmed as he dealt with the two women in his life and not being sure which way to turn. (Having know a woman co-worker years ago who lived a closely guarded with chaperons on dates and strict public and private moral behavior, I think I can in a small way understand what Leah was going through.) Leah was like a butterfly emerging from the restrictions that bound her to her faith and duty for her deceased husband and this new husband and ever so subtly made the new life inescapable for Jake who tried to carry on his own life as a doctor while being drawn into Leah's innocent charm. Leah's quiet charm had me falling in love with her too!
    helpful•7
    2
    • lwmtem
    • Dec 2, 2015

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • January 25, 2009 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • CBS
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame: Loving Leah episode #58.2
    • Production company
      • Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 35 minutes
    • Color
      • Color
    • Sound mix
      • Stereo

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