The last shot encapsulates the film. It's a high angle shot of a carefully designed public garden with a striking symmetrical pattern. This is Order writ in foliage.
Hero Motti sits outside the upper frame, on a bench, as he receives a phone call from Laura. She's the gentile classmate (aka shiksa) for whom he was prepared to abandon his family and his Jewish life. As the garden image suggests, he has removed himself from his orthodox Swiss Jewish family's tightly structured order and is moving through the outside wilds.
In a Hitchcock film the high-angle shot - dramatically looking down - would signify the birds' eye view (in the opening of Psycho as in the eponymous classic). In a film about orthodox Jews it's rather God's view down on the hapless mortals struggling over their souls amid sometimes suffocating religious constraints. (See the controversial Israeli Fox Trot for similar intrusions.) Where the low angle shot makes the figures seem larger, heroic (e.g., the strutting toy soldier in Fox Trot) the high angle evokes "what fools these mortals be."
As Motti rises and leaves we don't know if he has picked up the call or what his response to Laura's (presumably inviting) message might be. As we're left - literally - hanging we're reminded of the film's most resonant phrase. It's the motto of Motti's dad's insurance company: "You never know what will happen." That phrase explains why people feel the need to buy insurance ... and to have its metaphysical extension, a religion.
That's the phrase Motti teaches Laura and that she produces to demonstrate to his parents her interest in their yiddish. But it's also the key to the film's witty, spirited examination of any tight community, its defensive exclusivity and the reward its support provides faithful members. You don't have to be Jewish but....
In this coming of age story Motti's discovery of sexual freedom is paralleled by a rhetorical wildness - his direct addresses to the camera and the insertion of irregular material, as in his summary of the Jewish boy's expected life. So, too, the film's moral center is the wealthy woman still smoking through her last days of stage four cancer. Her tarot readings recommend his freeing himself from all restraints and conventions, to make his own life as he wants. In body, spirit, wisdom and honesty, she's the antithesis to Motti's standard issue yiddishe momma.
Ironically, he doesn't lose his virginity to his dream shicksa but to a Jewish spiritualist he meets at the Israeli yoga class run by the rabbi to whom his own family's rabbi has despatched him for a more conventional marital salvation. As a parellel to the dying woman, the rabbi who weaves eastern mysticism into his Judaism - "Om-Shalom"-provides another example of inflecting one's religious/cultural heritage to fit personal needs.
The title makes the hero's rebellious adventure seem natural: The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch. "Into the arms of a shicksa," adds an opening title. As Wolkenbruch means 'clouburst' the hero's breakout seems as natural - and nourishing - as a rainfall, another gift from the heavens, however discomfiting.
41 Reviews
Wish Orthodox Jew breaks out of arrange marriage rituals to freedom.
maurice_yacowar6 January 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Painfully funny
chrismiedema27 October 2019
Great film about family dynamics done with humour and
LucyBonette4 November 2019
I think Netflix recommended this to me after having loved Shtisel so much. This is the type of movie I really enjoy. I normally hate it when they're breaking the 4th wall, but even though the main character is talking to us directly throughout, it didn't bother me one bit.
I'm not Jewish, and I'm sure there are lots of cliches in this film (pushy mother, Jews only buying from each other etc.), and perhaps they explained a little too much about life for relatively Orthodox Jews to the viewers, but it was still done nicely and enjoyable in my opinion. Humour as well, though not in a slapstick kind of way.
I'm not Jewish, and I'm sure there are lots of cliches in this film (pushy mother, Jews only buying from each other etc.), and perhaps they explained a little too much about life for relatively Orthodox Jews to the viewers, but it was still done nicely and enjoyable in my opinion. Humour as well, though not in a slapstick kind of way.
Coming of age
meniek6424 November 2019
a light European movie that makes you happy
fuljah1 November 2019
The leading actor Joel Bassman was really cool and the movie was written and directed very adequately.. The supporting actors were all great.. I enjoyed it so much... I recommend it to anybody that wants a movie that will make them happy..
Very interesting
Emerenciano12 January 2020
In the big picture, it is a comedy..or maybe a drama. But, taking a more detailed look, it is a cultural movie. Watching it is a great dive into Jewish worls and how it interacts with the outside habits. A great film that should be seen with interest.
The cutest movie ever
ahuvldn14 December 2019
growing up in a jewish family
ksf-222 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Growing up in a jewish family. Where mom has your life all planned out. When motti (joel basman) meets a girl, who is not at all jewish, his mother disapproves. Mom is constantly complaining, and disapproves of everything her son does. As do ALL our mothers, no matter your ethnic or religious background. They ship him off to israel so he can meet a nice jewish girl. He finds a cute girl. But when he speaks to his mother on the phone, he is rude and crude. Which seemed to be quite out of character... there was clearly a nicer way to say the girl just wanted to be friends... with benefits. There's a huge confrontation back at home, and now motti is out of the house. Also a pretty unclear translation; the english subtitles say one thing, while the (netflix) spoken english track frequently says something quite different. It ends rather abruptly, but we can see the lessons that motti has learned. Or not. We're not really sure. Directed by michael steiner. Story by thomas meyer. It's pretty good.
Loved it!
felix-felixscaketeria31 October 2019
Ten or so years ago, My Big Fat Greek Wedding was all the rage. Think of this as the Jewish version. It's funny, sweet and touching. Be it Greek, Jewish, Italian - or any ethnic group that has strict controls and ideas about their families and children, this movie touches us all. As for me - My Big Fat Greek Wedding was spot on.
Understanding the survival pain between orthodox parents and love life
sridevisreenivasan27 May 2020
Most of orthodox family children have problems with their romantic relationships, because staying in Orthodox family obeying their rules and managing a relationship outside exhausting because guilt trips, hiding and the emotional drainage. Psychologically speaking, the perception of love and romantic partnership is defined by how parents potrey their relationship in front of us. And same pattern we tend to project on our romantic relationships also. It's sometimes challenging to make decisions and react to different situations and inability to take mature steps, just depending on trial and error. So just going with the feels, that is desires and pleasures and owning upto your own responsible decisions of relationships going against wishes of parents is also risky at times for the sake of personal security and speaking practically. These scenarios are highly common in any othodox families. But what is the truth and validation one would be seeking even from the person who motti desires to be in a relationship with this girl and going against the family in the name of love, how do children from orthodox families take the decision to move in a relationship with significant other. It needs to re-evaluated to take the decision rationally and maturely rather than having ego and pride against his orthodox parents and being driven by harmones.
Bad Writing, Worse Stereotyping
nepick30 November 2020
This could have been a good movie, had the director bothered to avoid the oldest and most idiotic stereotypes of Jewish people and especially of Jewish mothers. Speaking as a Jewish mother myself, I pride myself on my caring and my psychological sophistication. The behavior of the mother in this movie, even in a comedy framework, made me cringe. What possible purpose did this overacting serve? Watch Schtisel or Shrugim if you want more satisfying and complex fare...
Entertaining; and you want to know what's going to happen ....
PeterHerrmann21 February 2020
... and that's usually a basic requirement of a good movie (or book, or anything). Very amusing. Very entertaining. Granted, a bit of stereotyping (and some of it perhaps done wrongly). But well put together. And you like all the characters (another component of what makes for a good movie); and they're interesting.
Oy gevald...
ellaruth14 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Although funny at times, and touching in a cringy kind of way, the producers should have put a little more effort into research.
There's no way that a religious Jew would bring his cellphone to the table on Friday night, not to mention pull it out and start tapping away on the screen near his parents. Not even a guy like Motti, who's trying to carve his own path in the world, despite his overbearing mother. The entire scene where his friend Yossi leaves the room to call him on his phone, on the sabbath, is totally unrealistic. The next day, Motti wakes up in the arms of his "shiksa" girlfriend and says his mother has been calling him since 11. Now this should be Saturday morning, a day of rest for observing Jews, so why is everyone using their phones?! And then to make things worse, Motti and Laura go to his parents (should be around noon time already), and his parents say "we should be going to the synagogue...". No way!
And I know this is "only a movie" but how many guys who look like Motti - nerdy and insecure - actually score with so many good looking girls, just like that! The guy is a walking babe magnet!
There's no way that a religious Jew would bring his cellphone to the table on Friday night, not to mention pull it out and start tapping away on the screen near his parents. Not even a guy like Motti, who's trying to carve his own path in the world, despite his overbearing mother. The entire scene where his friend Yossi leaves the room to call him on his phone, on the sabbath, is totally unrealistic. The next day, Motti wakes up in the arms of his "shiksa" girlfriend and says his mother has been calling him since 11. Now this should be Saturday morning, a day of rest for observing Jews, so why is everyone using their phones?! And then to make things worse, Motti and Laura go to his parents (should be around noon time already), and his parents say "we should be going to the synagogue...". No way!
And I know this is "only a movie" but how many guys who look like Motti - nerdy and insecure - actually score with so many good looking girls, just like that! The guy is a walking babe magnet!
Unoriginal, unrealistic, and full of overblown stereotypes
J0SCH12 January 2020
The premise of this movie is absurd... beautiful women are not drawn to shy, quiet, awkward, unkempt guys who barely try -- let alone someone from an unfamiliar community. And just for a friendly passing of paper... or after a day in Israel. And they don't continue to do all the leading and initiating. These scenes with Laura and Yael were so unbelievable, cringy, and over-the-top... like an religious Jewish teenager's wet dream.
The Jewish mother stereotype was way overblown throughout and the father's silence and acceptance at almost everything, including his son's near rejection of Judaism and going against religious laws was not realistic. As others have said, neither were the Sabbath dinner/morning after scenes.
I know many formerly religious Jews and things just happened way too quickly in 2 hours to be believable as well -- people who leave the religion entirely or become less-religious have serious reasons, experiences, or deep questions that lead them to do so, and this can take years or even decades. We never saw anything serious that Motti was questioning or struggling with, other than his overbearing mother and trying to find a beautiful girl -- the moment he found one, he threw everything out the window instantly. Again, this just doesn't happen... certainly not so neatly/cleanly/simply/quickly.
It tried to be cute and had a neatly-wrapped ending... but was just so unbelievable and cringy throughout.
The Jewish mother stereotype was way overblown throughout and the father's silence and acceptance at almost everything, including his son's near rejection of Judaism and going against religious laws was not realistic. As others have said, neither were the Sabbath dinner/morning after scenes.
I know many formerly religious Jews and things just happened way too quickly in 2 hours to be believable as well -- people who leave the religion entirely or become less-religious have serious reasons, experiences, or deep questions that lead them to do so, and this can take years or even decades. We never saw anything serious that Motti was questioning or struggling with, other than his overbearing mother and trying to find a beautiful girl -- the moment he found one, he threw everything out the window instantly. Again, this just doesn't happen... certainly not so neatly/cleanly/simply/quickly.
It tried to be cute and had a neatly-wrapped ending... but was just so unbelievable and cringy throughout.
The funniest movie I have seen this year
shishkocatherine29 October 2019
Conventional and uninspiring
GHCool19 November 2019
Warning: Spoilers
The Motti Wolkenbruch film made me laugh a handful of times, but mostly made me roll my eyes. The film is incredibly lame from a filmmaking perspective and especially from a Jewish perspective.
the manic shiksa dream girl trope is bad enough, but the overbearing Jewish mother trope in this one is even worse. Handing him the phone in the shower? Getting in a car accident because of her excitement about a shiduch? It's sort of insulting that almost all of the women in the film are either potential sexual conquests or shrill cartoon characters. The only exception is the orthodox girl he pretended to want to marry. She seemed to have something going on upstairs. But alas, she's orthodox and wears tzniut clothes, so the movie doesn't want us to be interested in her as a candidate.
the movie's biggest sin, however, is that it pretends that it's theme about setting on your own path is counter cultural. In fact, it is incredibly conventional. It's message of assimilation is designed to make general audiences complacent, not to challenge them.
the manic shiksa dream girl trope is bad enough, but the overbearing Jewish mother trope in this one is even worse. Handing him the phone in the shower? Getting in a car accident because of her excitement about a shiduch? It's sort of insulting that almost all of the women in the film are either potential sexual conquests or shrill cartoon characters. The only exception is the orthodox girl he pretended to want to marry. She seemed to have something going on upstairs. But alas, she's orthodox and wears tzniut clothes, so the movie doesn't want us to be interested in her as a candidate.
the movie's biggest sin, however, is that it pretends that it's theme about setting on your own path is counter cultural. In fact, it is incredibly conventional. It's message of assimilation is designed to make general audiences complacent, not to challenge them.
Realistic
mudiiiii30 October 2019
A very realistic movie, gives us many of real situations in funny way. It is not related only with Jewish people. It fits well with any person belongs to a minority group in any place of the world. Especially if that minority group has strict rules to protect their values.
Moderately funny but hard to buy Motti as a chick magnet
dierregi3 July 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I "familiarised" with he world of orthodox Jews watching the wonderful series Shtisel and found this movie exploring some of the themes of orthodox life in a lighthearted, but also more superficial way.
Motti is a rather shy and physically unremarkable young man with an overbearing mother (sort of cliche Jewish mother). Mummy wants to get him married, but Motti doesn't agree.
The reasons for his non-conformity are not explained clearly, except that the life of an orthodox Jew seems pretty boring and predictable. However, Motti's big rebellion is basically just falling for an attractive girl who happens to be non-Jewish.
Said girl is the beautiful Laura, way out of Motti's league, who is intrigued by his diversity and perhaps conducting her own anthropological study. To separate the two love birds, Motti's parents send him to Israel, hoping he finds a good Jewish wife, but there Motti is seduced by another hot chick, free-spirit Yael who just wants a f..k (her words).
It's hard to see why the scrawny, unremarkable, ginger Motti is so attractive to beautiful girls, considering that his personality matches his looks, him being not outgoing, charming or remarkable in any way.
Back at home, Motti starts wearing T-shirts and misbehaving at shabbats. An act of open defiance send him out of the family and into Laura's arms. However, she doesn't want a serious relationship... or does she? The open ending does not help the flimsy plot.
Motti is a rather shy and physically unremarkable young man with an overbearing mother (sort of cliche Jewish mother). Mummy wants to get him married, but Motti doesn't agree.
The reasons for his non-conformity are not explained clearly, except that the life of an orthodox Jew seems pretty boring and predictable. However, Motti's big rebellion is basically just falling for an attractive girl who happens to be non-Jewish.
Said girl is the beautiful Laura, way out of Motti's league, who is intrigued by his diversity and perhaps conducting her own anthropological study. To separate the two love birds, Motti's parents send him to Israel, hoping he finds a good Jewish wife, but there Motti is seduced by another hot chick, free-spirit Yael who just wants a f..k (her words).
It's hard to see why the scrawny, unremarkable, ginger Motti is so attractive to beautiful girls, considering that his personality matches his looks, him being not outgoing, charming or remarkable in any way.
Back at home, Motti starts wearing T-shirts and misbehaving at shabbats. An act of open defiance send him out of the family and into Laura's arms. However, she doesn't want a serious relationship... or does she? The open ending does not help the flimsy plot.
The beauty of love!
guypop-994-45919628 April 2020
a well-filmed, reasonably well-acted journey into futility
faithhampton6 February 2020
Warning: Spoilers
Joel Basman played his part well, but I wasn't honestly even sure what the point of this movie was. And how exactly is Motti "awakened" by the end of this? I mean, he has had sex a couple times, smoked, and begins to wear T-shirts. But he is no closer to any actual useful realizations about life than he was at the beginning amid all his cultural laws. He is merely learning to play by a different rulebook, but the game itself is never defined. This movie left me thinking in general about the meaninglessness of a life lived amid the bondage of religiousity and legalism, as well as that where the individual makes his own rules. No real existential questions were answered, or even broached; it was a well-filmed, reasonably well-acted journey into futility. This film has been likened to "My Big Fat Greek Wedding;" that movie, however, is funny enough and sincere enough that one manages to avoid the existential questions. "Motti" seems to wish for us to evaluate those questions, but never gives us enough meat to begin the process of chewing. Not funny enough or even remotely profound enough to be worth it. Hats off to the actors, though.
A great little film...i loved it!
Nikkie127 November 2019
I adored this movie! It reminded me of a Woody Allen production, combining humour (Yiddish) and pathos in a funny yet heartfelt manner. I was thoroughly entertained! Joel Basman's performance as "Motti" is A+...definitely Oscar worthy.
Worst film ever
palomalima-010321 January 2021
My Big Fat Greek Wedding meets early Woody Allen
Sasha_Lauren16 November 2019
This politically incorrect film has chutzpah. It's a coming-of-age story that features over-the-top Orthodox Jewish stereotypes with plenty for people to be offended about. The film is both funny and touching, the pace was quick, the humor kept coming, the music was upbeat and ironic, and the acting, overdone to perfection.
Mordechai Wolkenbruch, Motti, (played radiantly and nebbishly by Joel Basman), is trying to find his way in life, but his overbearing mother, (Inge Maux), has one thing on her mind: to marry Motti off to a nice Orthodox Jewish woman. She set him up on ten arranged dates through the Shidduch process, which proves to be disappointing and infuriating to Motti.
In a college class, Motti meets a beautiful, lively shiksa, (a non-Jew), called Laura who boldly pursues Motti, which puts him in stark conflict with the wishes of his mother. In order to set him on the right path, the family rabbi recommends a trip to Israel so that Mordachei might meet a woman to fall in love with there, but that trip does not have the intended outcome. While in Israel, Motti stays with some people who are part of a new age Om Shalom cult -- these scenes are some of the best in the film.
The characters are comedically exaggerated. Sunnyi Melles plays wealthy, terminally ill business client, Mrs. Silberzweig, who reads Motti's Tarot cards in an amusing tragic-comedic way. It is a wonderful cast.
When the Yiddish version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah played, I thought I would plotz.
I saw this on Netflix. I recommend watching it with subtitles rather than overdubbing if you're not a German speaker.
Mordechai Wolkenbruch, Motti, (played radiantly and nebbishly by Joel Basman), is trying to find his way in life, but his overbearing mother, (Inge Maux), has one thing on her mind: to marry Motti off to a nice Orthodox Jewish woman. She set him up on ten arranged dates through the Shidduch process, which proves to be disappointing and infuriating to Motti.
In a college class, Motti meets a beautiful, lively shiksa, (a non-Jew), called Laura who boldly pursues Motti, which puts him in stark conflict with the wishes of his mother. In order to set him on the right path, the family rabbi recommends a trip to Israel so that Mordachei might meet a woman to fall in love with there, but that trip does not have the intended outcome. While in Israel, Motti stays with some people who are part of a new age Om Shalom cult -- these scenes are some of the best in the film.
The characters are comedically exaggerated. Sunnyi Melles plays wealthy, terminally ill business client, Mrs. Silberzweig, who reads Motti's Tarot cards in an amusing tragic-comedic way. It is a wonderful cast.
When the Yiddish version of Leonard Cohen's Hallelujah played, I thought I would plotz.
I saw this on Netflix. I recommend watching it with subtitles rather than overdubbing if you're not a German speaker.
Would be if it wasn't so unrealistic
traceytak20 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I liked the main character Motti but I just kept thinking that the relationships he was portrayed in would never happen, women of Laura's looks and the attractive Tel Aviv lady would not have jumped into bed with him so easily. His mother wasn't funny, rather frightening and gave a bad representation of Jewish mothers. The ending was also a bad depiction of young love, are we to believe that they were so wrapped up in each other, he was so distraught and yet he wouldn't take her call? The film portrayed Jewish people as being purely about arranged marriage and nothing to do with their beliefs or other traditions which was disappointing.
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