Plot Explained Spoilers guaranteed!
Plot Explained

Browse by genre

Simchas and Sorrows (2022) movie poster

Characters & Themes

Simchas and Sorrows (2022) Characters, Setting & Themes Explained

Release, runtime and language
2022 · 117 mins · English
Starring
Tom Kemp, Juliana Davies, Hari Nef, Luke Forbes, John Cullum, Annelise Cepero
Budget
$650K

An atheist actress attempts to convert to Judaism to marry the man she loves.

On this page (7)
  1. 1 Where to watch
  2. 2 Characters explained (6)
  3. 3 Where & when it takes place
  4. 4 Themes & meaning (3)
  5. 5 Character & meaning questions
  6. 6 Movie threads
  7. 7 Every angle

Where to watch

Where to Watch Simchas and Sorrows (2022)

Where can you watch Simchas and Sorrows? Stream, rent or buy it in the US, including on Amazon Prime Video, Hoopla and Fandango at Home Free: current JustWatch availability with up-to-date prices.

Streaming availability powered by JustWatch

6 main characters · contains spoilers

Simchas and Sorrows Characters Explained: Who Is Who

The main characters of Simchas and Sorrows (2022), heroes and villains: what drives them, how they change over the course of the story and what each of them reveals about the film's bigger ideas.

  • Agnes

    played by Genevieve Adams

    An aspiring Brooklyn actress who was raised Catholic and is now an atheist. She discovers she is pregnant and agrees to marry Levi, who is eager to honor his family and traditions. Despite her atheist stance, she shows resilience and self-assurance as she pursues a path that respects her beliefs. Her journey centers on staying true to herself while navigating family expectations.

    • 🎭 Actress
    • 🧭 Identity
    • 💖 Love
  • Levi

    played by Thomas McDonell

    Levi is deeply connected to his Jewish family and is excited about marriage and traditional life. He seeks harmony between love and cultural expectations, but his insecurities threaten the relationship and he grapples with pressure from his siblings and their fiancée.

    • 👪 Family
    • 🕍 Tradition
    • ❤️ Romance
  • Rabbi Cohen

    played by Hari Nef

    A progressive, open-minded rabbi who teaches Judaism to people from diverse backgrounds. He provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space for Agnes to explore her beliefs while participating in classes, embodying a bridge between faith and personal choice.

    • 🕎 Judaism
    • 🌈 Inclusion
  • Nate

    played by John Cullum

    Agnes's eccentric grandfather who offers unconditional support and encourages her to stay true to herself and her convictions.

    • 👴 Grandfather
    • 💡 Wisdom
  • Abe

    played by Billy Calder

    Levi's conservative brother who belittles Agnes and Levi's choices, creating tension and conflict within the family circle.

    • 🗯️ Tension
    • 🧭 Traditionalism
  • Glaucia

    played by Annelise Cepero

    Levi's non-Jewish fiancée who, along with Abe, challenges and belittles Agnes and Levi's choices, highlighting the clash of backgrounds.

    • 🌍 Outsider
    • 💬 Debate

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:09

Was this helpful?

Setting

Where and When Does Simchas and Sorrows Take Place?

The setting of Simchas and Sorrows (2022): the year and time period, the places and locations, and how they shape the characters, the mood and the tension of the story.

Time period

Location

Brooklyn, New York

Brooklyn is depicted as the film's setting, a bustling borough that fuses diverse cultures with a strong sense of community. The neighborhood’s theatres, churches, and synagogues frame the characters' lives and the pressures they face. The urban backdrop highlights how faith, tradition, and personal choice intersect in everyday life.

  • 🗽 Brooklyn
  • 🧭 Contemporary
  • 👪 Family
  • 🕍 Jewish Community

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:09

Was this helpful?

3 major themes

Simchas and Sorrows Meaning: Themes & Message Explained

What is Simchas and Sorrows (2022) really about? The emotional, social and philosophical themes the film keeps returning to, its symbolism and the message beneath the surface.

  • Faith & Belief

    Agnes enters Judaism out of love and respect for Levi's family, despite being raised Catholic and now atheist. The film follows her exploration of faith with Rabbi Cohen's open guidance, highlighting doubt as a natural part of conversion. The tension between belief and personal conviction drives key decisions and personal growth, as the couple even debates holiday traditions like having a Christmas tree.

  • Family & Tradition

    Levi's relatives insist on traditional Jewish practices, pressuring Agnes and Levi to conform. Abe and Glaucia epitomize external criticism and serve as antagonists who challenge their choices. The story examines how family loyalties collide with individual identity and the cost of pursuing one's own truth.

  • Identity & Self-Discovery

    Agnes remains steadfast in her own values, balancing her acting ambitions, pregnancy, and changing beliefs. Her journey becomes a study of selfhood as she weighs how much to adapt for love and acceptance. The film frames self-discovery as a courageous act of staying true to oneself under pressure.

Last updated: March 05, 2026 at 18:09

Was this helpful?

Character & theme questions

Simchas and Sorrows Characters & Meaning: Your Questions Answered

The questions people ask about Simchas and Sorrows (2022): who the characters really are, their relationships, what the symbols mean, where it takes place and what the movie is really about. Each answer contains spoilers.

Q1

Where does Simchas and Sorrows take place?

The film is set in Brooklyn, New York. The setting highlights a bustling borough that fuses diverse cultures with a strong sense of community, where theaters, churches, and synagogues frame the characters' lives and the pressures they face.

  • brooklyn
  • new york
  • setting
  • location
Q2

When is the movie set?

The film takes place in contemporary times. The setting reflects a modern Brooklyn where faith, tradition, and personal choice intersect in everyday urban life.

  • contemporary
  • modern
  • time period
  • setting
Q3

What is the faith theme in Simchas and Sorrows?

The film explores faith and belief through Agnes's journey of converting to Judaism out of love and respect for Levi's family. Despite being raised Catholic and now an atheist, she explores her beliefs with guidance from Rabbi Cohen, highlighting doubt as a natural part of conversion.

  • faith
  • conversion
  • judaism
  • religion
  • rabbi cohen
Q4

How does family tradition play a role in the story?

Levi's relatives insist on traditional Jewish practices, pressuring Agnes and Levi to conform. The story examines how family loyalties collide with individual identity, as characters like Abe and Glaucia challenge their choices, creating tension between personal truth and cultural expectations.

  • family
  • tradition
  • jewish
  • expectations
  • pressure
Q5

Who is Agnes in the movie?

Agnes is an aspiring Brooklyn actress who was raised Catholic and is now an atheist. She discovers she is pregnant and agrees to marry Levi, showing resilience and self-assurance as she navigates family expectations while staying true to her own values and beliefs.

  • agnes
  • genevieve adams
  • actress
  • atheist
  • protagonist
Q6

Who is Levi in the movie?

Levi is deeply connected to his Jewish family and is eager to honor his traditions through marriage. He seeks harmony between love and cultural expectations, but grapples with pressure from his siblings and insecurity about his choices.

  • levi
  • thomas mcdonell
  • jewish
  • husband
  • family
Q7

Who is Rabbi Cohen in the story?

Rabbi Cohen is a progressive, open-minded rabbi who teaches Judaism to people from diverse backgrounds. He provides a supportive, nonjudgmental space for Agnes to explore her beliefs while participating in classes, bridging faith and personal choice.

  • rabbi cohen
  • hari nef
  • rabbi
  • judaism
  • teacher
Q8

What does the movie say about identity?

The film presents identity and self-discovery as a courageous act. Agnes balances her acting ambitions, pregnancy, and changing beliefs while staying true to herself under pressure from family expectations. Her journey shows the cost of pursuing one's own truth against external criticism.

  • identity
  • self-discovery
  • selfhood
  • personal growth
  • authenticity
Q9

Who are Abe and Glaucia in the film?

Abe is Levi's conservative brother who belittles Agnes and Levi's choices, creating family tension. Glaucia is Levi's non-Jewish fiancée who, alongside Abe, challenges and criticizes their decisions, highlighting the clash of different backgrounds.

  • abe
  • glaucia
  • antagonists
  • conflict
  • criticism
Q10

Who is Nate in the movie?

Nate is Agnes's eccentric grandfather who offers unconditional support. He encourages her to stay true to herself and her convictions, serving as a grounding force in her journey of self-discovery.

  • nate
  • john cullum
  • grandfather
  • support
  • family
Q11

How is the Jewish community depicted?

The Jewish community in Brooklyn is depicted as a strong, tradition-oriented group with visible religious presence through synagogues. The community's expectations and traditions create both warmth and pressure for characters navigating conversion and marriage.

  • jewish community
  • brooklyn
  • synagogue
  • tradition
  • religion

Movie threads

More Movies Like Simchas and Sorrows, by Mood & Story

Curated lists built around what makes Simchas and Sorrows tick: the same mood, the same kind of story or the same emotional payoff. Each list explains why these movies belong together.

Movies about love vs. tradition like Simchas and Sorrows

Stories of relationships tested by conflicting family values and cultural expectations. Find more films where love challenges tradition, similar to Simchas and Sorrows. These movies feature interfaith relationships, family pressure, and couples forging their own path against cultural expectations.

  • interfaith struggles
  • family pressure
  • romantic tension
  • self-discovery
  • cultural conflict
  • steadfast values
  • Tone: hopeful, earnest, contemplative
  • Pacing: steady, character-driven
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The narrative typically follows a couple from different backgrounds whose relationship is challenged by family expectations and cultural differences. The story focuses on their journey to reconcile their love with the traditions that define them, often culminating in a choice that reflects personal growth over societal conformity.

Why they belong together: These films are grouped together because they share a core conflict between romantic desire and established cultural or religious traditions. They feature strong character arcs centered on self-discovery and the emotional weight of choosing between personal happiness and family approval.

Character-driven self-discovery movies like Simchas and Sorrows

Quietly powerful stories about individuals defining their own identity and beliefs. If you liked the personal journey in Simchas and Sorrows, explore these other films about self-definition. They feature strong central characters questioning their beliefs and finding their own way with a steady, hopeful pace.

  • self-discovery
  • philosophical debates
  • steadfast values
  • personal growth
  • introspective
  • romantic tension
  • Tone: hopeful, introspective, earnest
  • Pacing: steady, contemplative
Why these movies?

The story pattern: The plot is driven by the protagonist's internal process as they confront a defining personal or philosophical challenge. External events serve to prompt internal reflection, leading to a conclusion where the character's sense of self is stronger and more clearly defined.

Why they belong together: These movies share a central focus on a character's internal journey of self-discovery. The pacing is steady to allow for reflection, the tone is hopeful despite challenges, and the emotional weight comes from relatable, personal stakes rather than high drama.

Every angle

Simchas and Sorrows (2022) Explained: Plot, Timeline & Characters

Everything about Simchas and Sorrows in one place: what happens in the plot summary, the timeline in chronological order, the characters and meaning and a spoiler-free summary. What's After the Movie adds the cast, box office and post-credit scenes.

Coming soon on iOS and Android

The Plot Explained Movie Summary App

Plot summaries, endings explained and timelines on your phone. Catch up on any movie in minutes, save your favorites and never miss a twist again.

Be the first to know when we launch. Your email stays private, always.

Learn more about the app