Ushpizin
Ha-Ushpizin
dir. Gidi Dar
Israel / Colombia, 2004 - 90
The protagonist is Shuli Rand, a well-known Israeli actor who converted to the orthodox faith. In this occasionally comic film, he plays himself.
On the eve of the Sukkot feast (when Jews remember the exodus from Egypt by staying in home-made huts and receiving guests there), the protagonist and his wife hardly have enough money to live up to their religious obligations. When by chance they happen to receive a large sum of money and two guests (“ushpizin” is Aramaean for guests) turn up in their hut, their luck seems to take a turn for the better. But the two visitors, old acquaintances from Moshe's shady past, turn out to have just escaped from jail and are not planning to adapt to Moshe's new way of life.
The film was shot on location with the active support of the local rabbi and the orthodox local inhabitants.
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