Loving Leah (2009)

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.

Director:

Jeff Bleckner

Writer:

Pnenah Goldstein

Stars:

Lauren Ambrose, Adam Kaufman, Susie Essman

Nominated for 1 Primetime Emmy. Another 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Lauren Ambrose	...	Leah Lever
Adam Kaufman	...	Jake Lever
Susie Essman	...	Malka
Harris Yulin	...	Rabbi Belsky
Natasha Lyonne	...	Esther
Christy Pusz	...	Carol
Ricki Lake	...	Rabbi Gerry
Mercedes Ruehl	...	Janice Lever
Tonye Patano	...	Emily
Donnie Keshawarz	...	Raj
Sylvia Kauders	...	Widow Goldfarb
Jayne Houdyshell	...	Mrs. Finkelman
David Rossmer	...	Rabbi Benjamin Lever
Tibor Feldman	...	Dr. Saloway
Jolly Abraham	...	Priya

Storyline

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.

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Plot Keywords:

levirate | jewish woman | chick flick | character name in title | 

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

TV-PG

Details

Official Sites:

CBS

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 January 2009 (USA)

Also Known As:

Hallmark Hall of Fame: Loving Leah episode #58.2

Company Credits

Production Co:

Hallmark Hall of Fame Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

95 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The same year she filmed "Loving Leah", Lauren Ambrose also rehearsed for the Broadway drama "Exit the King".

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Goofs

There is no Cambridge Street in Georgetown. And there is no Reform temple in Georgetown. In fact, there is no Reform congregation called "Temple Torah" anywhere in the Greater Washington area. Ironically, the only synagogue in Georgetown is Orthodox. Leah would have loved it. In addition, there is no Metro (subway) stop in Georgetown so Leah could not have taken the Metro to the Dupont Circle station. She would have walked it.

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Connections

Features Moonstruck (1987)

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Soundtracks

Everything
Written by Michael Bublé, Amy Foster-Gillies, and Alan Chang
Performed by Michael Bublé

User Reviews

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!