Minyan
Just finished watching "Minyan" released by Strand Releasing.
"Minyan" is a rather intriguing movie which chronicles the experiences of a young Russian Jewish immigrant who is trying to discover his own sense of self in Brighton Beach during the late 1980s while trying to reconcile his own sexual desires within the strict confines of his Yeshiva and expectations of his family to follow their wishes, and not their own. [I do know a thing or two about parents who think your own personal happiness is going to be dependent on marriage - something I never wanted, and it frustrated Mom and Dad to no end because they couldn't understand that the only family I ever wanted was the one I already had. Besides, when I was five years old, I told my parents and relatives that I wasn't going to get married, and I do keep my word. LOL.]
Based on the short story of the same title by David Bezmozgis, "Minyan" is a grittly realistic portrayal of the Russian Jewish immigrant experience as David struggles to find his voice and own path and it mirrors at times the American Jewish Experience. Spoilers Zack, I dropped out of Hebrew School and told my parents that I wasn't going back to it because I did not like Mr. Charnorf - I stopped calling him a Rabbi because of the way he acted and kept telling the class that we and our parents were bad Jews. Now I'd also be lying if I didn't admit that dropping out was also the perfect way in enforcing my decision of not getting Bar Mitzvah since by the age of 8 I had been long tired of being the perfect Family Jew because of the "sin" of Dad having converted to Judaism. Also, you can't get married if you're not an "adult" man. Yes, my logic was twisted and warped way back then. Like David's parents when he announced he was going to regular school and not the Yeshiva, Mom and Dad yelled, threatened, begged bribed, and pleaded, but I refused to go.
David, who is helping his Grandfather get into a low-rent apartment that caters to Jews by being part of the Minyan there - Trigger Warning - if the accurate depiction of the separation of genders is going to offend you in the worship scenes, don't watch this movie; enters into a sexual relationship with a bartender at a gay nightclub who literally rapes him during their first encounter. David is also an alcoholic.
Minyan is not an easy movie to watch. It's a compelling and realistic portrayal of the Russian Jewish Immigrant experience in America with the background of the early AIDS crisis.
Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Minyan-Samuel-...
"Minyan" is a rather intriguing movie which chronicles the experiences of a young Russian Jewish immigrant who is trying to discover his own sense of self in Brighton Beach during the late 1980s while trying to reconcile his own sexual desires within the strict confines of his Yeshiva and expectations of his family to follow their wishes, and not their own. [I do know a thing or two about parents who think your own personal happiness is going to be dependent on marriage - something I never wanted, and it frustrated Mom and Dad to no end because they couldn't understand that the only family I ever wanted was the one I already had. Besides, when I was five years old, I told my parents and relatives that I wasn't going to get married, and I do keep my word. LOL.]
Based on the short story of the same title by David Bezmozgis, "Minyan" is a grittly realistic portrayal of the Russian Jewish immigrant experience as David struggles to find his voice and own path and it mirrors at times the American Jewish Experience. Spoilers Zack, I dropped out of Hebrew School and told my parents that I wasn't going back to it because I did not like Mr. Charnorf - I stopped calling him a Rabbi because of the way he acted and kept telling the class that we and our parents were bad Jews. Now I'd also be lying if I didn't admit that dropping out was also the perfect way in enforcing my decision of not getting Bar Mitzvah since by the age of 8 I had been long tired of being the perfect Family Jew because of the "sin" of Dad having converted to Judaism. Also, you can't get married if you're not an "adult" man. Yes, my logic was twisted and warped way back then. Like David's parents when he announced he was going to regular school and not the Yeshiva, Mom and Dad yelled, threatened, begged bribed, and pleaded, but I refused to go.
David, who is helping his Grandfather get into a low-rent apartment that caters to Jews by being part of the Minyan there - Trigger Warning - if the accurate depiction of the separation of genders is going to offend you in the worship scenes, don't watch this movie; enters into a sexual relationship with a bartender at a gay nightclub who literally rapes him during their first encounter. David is also an alcoholic.
Minyan is not an easy movie to watch. It's a compelling and realistic portrayal of the Russian Jewish Immigrant experience in America with the background of the early AIDS crisis.
Recommended.
Four Stars.
https://www.amazon.com/Minyan-Samuel-...
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