Ushpizin

Wednesday October 26, 7:00pm The Guild 45th

"When a man changes something within himself, he progresses."

As Moshe and Malli prepare for the Succoth holiday they pray for a child. The ultimate "guests who wouldn’t leave" visit them instead which the couple sees as a test of their faith. Eliyahu, a friend from Moche’s wilder days, arrives with Yossef his prison cellmate and the two do their best to exploit the good hospitality of their hosts. There are moments of genuine humor; the two visitors cover their heads with their hands as they enter the temple like fish out of water and the opening scene when merchants haggle over citron as though it was diamonds. Moche and Malli are sweet and their chemistry is obvious but the story is about as inspiring as a comic book. Setting and culture is the only thing that makes Ushpizin unique. A confrontation as the two outsiders commit blasphemy to the objection of the neighborhood is easily the best scene.