PHILADELPHIA FILM CENTER | 1412 CHESTNUT STREET
Benny Fredman | Israel | 2023 | 110 MIN | Hebrew, Yiddish with English subtitles
In this explosive true-crime drama, a newly married young man's ambition to open a computer store in his ultra-Orthodox Jerusalem neighborhood begets a shocking clash of tradition versus modernity. Devout yeshiva student Yair (Roy Nik) tries to support his family with a new business, introducing outside technology into the cloistered community. Despite efforts to adhere to strict Haredi rules, he faces vehement opposition from the locals, leading to rising tensions, the threat of violence, and marital strain, culminating in a decisive showdown. Nominated for 9 Israeli Academy Awards, including Best Film, writer-director Benny Fredman's intense portrayal, based on personal experiences, offers a troubling yet potent commentary on the intersection of free will and religious dogmatism.
Guest Speaker: Benny Fredman, Director