In cinemas; Cert 15A Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane in 'Between The Temples' Jason Schwartzman confirms his status as one of the funniest actors in independent cinema with this bockety Jewish comedy about two caricatures finding an unlikely solace in one another at different stages in their lives. He plays Ben, a cantor at a New York synagogue undergoing a life crisis after the death of his alcoholic wife. After getting punched out in a bar fight, he awakens to the face of Carla (Carol Kane), his music teacher growing up.
They rekindle an odd rapport, before Carla announces she wishes to make her Bat Mitzvah despite being in her later years, and wants Ben to mentor her. This raises more than an eyebrow with Ben’s same-sex parents (Dolly de Leon and Caroline Aaron) and the rabbi (Robert Smigel), who would all prefer Ben’s attentions went to the rabbi’s beautiful but troubled daughter Gabby (Madeline Weinstein). Few cinema settings are more adept at self-parody than Judaism, and this delightfully wonky, screwball stagger from director Nathan Silver (co-writing with C Mason Wells) reminds us why.
Schwartzman and Kane whip up a chemistry all their own, while cuts and sound edits conjure an absurd world encasing them. Five stars Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.