Between the Temples

Between the Temples

Year: 2024

Runtime: 1 h 51 m

Language: english

Director: Nathan Silver

Echo Score: 76
Comedy

A cantor's deeply held faith is shaken when he's unexpectedly confronted by a former music teacher who is now his adult Bat Mitzvah student. As his spiritual certainty unravels, he finds himself navigating a series of comical and unexpected events. Carol Kane brings her signature humor to the film, alongside Jason Schwartzman in this offbeat comedy.

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Timeline & Setting – Between the Temples (2024)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Between the Temples (2024). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

Present day

The events of the film take place in contemporary times, focusing on the personal struggles and cultural practices relevant to modern Jewish life. Issues such as faith, identity, and the importance of ritual are explored in this setting.

Location

Carla's home, synagogue

Carla's home serves as a key setting where pivotal moments unfold, including the preparation for her long-desired bat mitzvah. The synagogue stands as a cultural and spiritual hub for the characters, representing tradition and the community that supports them.

🏠 Home ⛪ Synagogue

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:44

Main Characters – Between the Temples (2024)

Meet the key characters of Between the Temples (2024), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Ben Gottlieb (Jason Schwartzman)

Ben is a cantor struggling to regain his faith and voice after the death of his wife, Ruth. His character embodies vulnerability and a deep yearning for reconnection, as he navigates personal loss while seeking meaning in his cultural heritage.

🎤 Cantor 💔 Grief 🌀 Seeker

Carla Kessler (Carol Kane)

Carla is Ben's former music teacher who, in her adult life, seeks to have the bat mitzvah she missed in her youth. Her character represents resilience and the quest for self-identity, as she embraces her Jewish roots later in life.

🎶 Teacher 🌱 Resilience 🌟 Self-discovery

Nat (Matthew Shear)

Nat is Carla's son who embodies modern skepticism toward religious practices. His views create tension as he opposes his mother’s desire for a bat mitzvah, reflecting themes of generational differences and the struggle with faith.

🛑 Skeptic 🤔 Thinker 👫 Conflict

Bruce (Robert Smigel)

Bruce is the synagogue's rabbi who facilitates Carla's ceremonial aspirations while navigating the complexities of his own family's connections to faith. His character highlights the challenges faced by religious leaders in contemporary moral landscapes.

⛪ Rabbi 🔗 Connector ⚖️ Mediator

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:44

Major Themes – Between the Temples (2024)

Explore the central themes of Between the Temples (2024), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💔 Grief

The theme of grief permeates the narrative as Ben grapples with the loss of his wife, Ruth. His inability to sing symbolizes the deep void left by her absence, while his interactions with others reflect his ongoing struggles to find closure and meaning.

🎤 Identity

Identity is a prominent theme, particularly through Carla's journey in claiming her bat mitzvah. This rite of passage becomes a means for both her and Ben to explore their spiritual identities and reconcile with their past traumas.

💫 Rediscovery

The film reflects the theme of rediscovery as Ben reconnects with music and community against the backdrop of personal loss. His relationship with Carla leads him to confront his past and embrace new possibilities, showcasing the transformative power of human connection.

Last Updated: October 22, 2024 at 23:44

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Narrative Summary

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Movies about a crisis of faith like in Between the Temples

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Narrative Summary

The narrative pattern involves a character whose core beliefs are suddenly unstable. Their journey is one of deconstruction and reassembly, facilitated by a relationship with someone from outside their usual sphere—a student, a stranger, or an antagonist—who becomes an accidental guide toward a more nuanced, often bittersweet, resolution.

Why These Movies?

These films share a focus on the internal conflict of a crisis of faith or identity, a moderate narrative complexity with subplots exploring community and family, and a tone that balances serious themes with moments of humor and warmth.

Unlock the Full Story of Between the Temples

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Between the Temples Summary

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Between the Temples Summary

Between the Temples Timeline

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Between the Temples Timeline

Between the Temples Spoiler-Free Summary

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Between the Temples Spoiler-Free Summary

More About Between the Temples

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