US Mall 1 - Next Year in Jerusalem

	List Price: $39.95 Our Price: Your Save: $ 39.95 ( 100% ) Availability: Manufacturer: Water Bearer Films Starring: Dean Alai, Steven Brinberg, Peter J. Byrnes, Harry Chambarry, Michael DeNigris
Average Customer Rating:
Audience Rating: NR (Not Rated) Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 9786305265115 Format: Color ISBN: 6305265119 Label: Water Bearer Films Manufacturer: Water Bearer Films Number Of Items: 1 Publisher: Water Bearer Films Release Date: 1999-02-26 Running Time: 103 Studio: Water Bearer Films Theatrical Release Date: 1997
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: A Beautiful Film Comment: "Next Year in Jerusalem" A Beautiful Film Amos Lassen and Cinema Pride WaterBearer Films will soon be bringing us the DVD release of the 1997 film, "Next Year in Jerusalem". It is the story of an Orthodox Jewish family living in Brooklyn. The oldest son is living at home with his parents and younger brothers and is being pressured to marry the girl his parents have chosen. He, however, is slowly beginning to realize that he is gay. He becomes reacquainted with a school friend and as he watches as his friend comes out he is self pressured to come out as well. There is a great deal of talent in this very cheaply budgeted film. The acting by the two Jewish gay guys is nothing short of wonderful as is the acting of the women. The story is deeply complex--one guy is far in the closet about being gay, the other is far in the closet about being Jewish. Their love pulls them out of their closets and the story and the dialog is excellent. Here is a beautifully important story dealing with gay love as opposed to religus conflict. The story is an unusual coming-out story. The Jew is afraid of being considered unorthodox because he loves someone of his own sex and the gay guy is afraid of being Jewish because he will not be accepted. As the two men gradually evolve, the story becomes intense and love blossoms and wins out. I identified so much with this film that it was painful to watch as I saw so much of myself in it. I just feel badly that it could not have been made on a larger budget as the story's so important. Customer Rating: Summary: incredible, beautiful story Comment: This is perhaps the cheapest looking film I've seen since Plan 9 From Outer Space---but this is no Ed Wood film. There's some real talent here. A deeply moving story of two gay orthodox Jews in love, one in the closet about being Jewish, and the other in the closet about being gay, this no budget production is saved by a brilliantly written story and fine acting by the leads. This is simply one of the best scripts in years, and it's a shame the producers couldn't raise the funds needed to shoot it properly. A smart film with heart! Customer Rating: Summary: Not Perfect but a great try Comment: While the production value of this film is questionable, the writting is very solid. It tells a difficult story about difficult issues and treats these issues pretty well. Considering that this is the director's first try he had done a very good job. I have to question the review about this film needing a shower and a change of clothes, I can not imagine that this person actually watched the film. Customer Rating: Summary: great story, spotty production Comment: This beautifully written story has some problems due to it's ultra low budget. The camera work is not very good, some of the acting is spotty. But former porn queen Georgina Spelvin, the two male leads and the girl who plays the Rabbi's daughter are superb. Some may find this hard to sit thru due to the camerawork, but the story and script are so well executed, that this is forgivable. I believe the director also wrote this. I'd like to see what he can do with a real budget, and a real crew. Customer Rating: Summary: A very special, unique tale of learning to be yourself. Comment: There is perhaps no other film like this: a completely honest and unpretentious look at what it means to be at odds with your own identity. Almost documentary-like in its simple cinemagraphic style and highlighted and underlined by post-modern singer-songwriter Richard Barone's brilliant score, "Next Year in Jerusalem" succeeds because the focus never leavesthe plight of the two protagonists: one closeted because of his gayness, but open about his Jewishness, the other comfortable with his sexuality, but a closeted Jew. A film in which compassion wins out