This is the ninth feature film for writer and director Nathan Silver and his previous films have enjoyed a long string of festival successes including at Venice Film Festival, Tribeca, Mar del Plata, Locarno, Rotterdam and the Viennale making him one of the most prolific of American independent filmmakers with a solid festival following.

Fans of his brand of subtle warm hearted comedy will not be disappointed at his latest offering Between the Temples that he also wrote the script for together with collaborator C Mason Wells.  

The storyline follows Ben Gottlieb, a forty-something cantor, played by Jason Schwartzman, who is losing his voice and possibly also his faith. He struggles to live up to the expectations of his rabbi and his congregation. Suddenly his daily struggles are set on their head when an old acquaintance suddenly comes back into his life, the spirited Carla played by Carol Kane. She was his music teacher in primary school and she comes back into his life when she decides she wants to have the Bat Mitzvah she was denied as a child.

The two become increasingly close and Ben hopes this relationship will give him the new lease on life he needs. But Carla’s son, played by Matthew Shear, is deeply suspicious of his mother’s newfound religiosity.  Gabby, played by Madeline Weinstein, is also determined to attract Ben’s affection. She is the daughter of Ben’s rabbi Bruce played by Robert Smigel.

Between the Temples follows in the successful footstep of Nathan Silver’s previous microbudget films shot on 16mm with a fly-on-the-wall style. It has been six years since his last feature The Great Pretender and during this time he collaborated with his mother Cindy on a docuseries titled Cutting My Mother, a highly personal project that was critically well received. Cindy makes a cameo appearance in Between The Temples as she also does in his earlier films.

This New York based independent film director has a signature style and humour that is consistently entertaining. His films are natural and affectionate without being overly sweet.

Between the Temples (USA)
Directed by Nathan Silver
Cast: Jason Schwartzman, Carol Kane, Dolly de Leon, Caroline Aaron, Robert Smigel, Matthew Shear, Madeline Weinstein