Ushpizin

An enjoyable film. It's lighthearted approach, and the winning performances from the married couple really add to the accessibility of the movie. A tinge of sadness marks the whole proceeding though, as the lead character seeks throughout the film to do enough to win favor from heaven, though seems ultimately to be blessed time and again for his deeds. The unexamined tension between his pursuits and God's grace evident in the "miracles" is a big missed opportunity.

I really enjoyed the scenes of the husband and wife all the other scenes not so much. What I felt hurt the film so but was the addition of the two criminals now I know they're the central part of the film but even still they really hurt my enjoyment of this film.

"Pity that the story behind the making of Ushpizin is more interesting than the film itself." - Ed Gonzalez

Thoroughly entertaining. A wonderfully thought-provoking film about the conflict between the sacred and the secular. Performances are great, especially from the main couple, whose problems and joys draw the viewer into their lives.

It's a fairly decent film for the most part, and I might have given it a higher score if it wasn't for the rushed and rather preposterous ending. Writer and talented lead actor Shuli Rand, and his on-and-offscreen wife Michal, are interesting characters, in that they are born-again Haredim in real life, and the typical subtle proselytism shows. Unintentionally, the film serves to expose the ridiculousness of faith and the warped value system the ultra-orthodox adhere to.

Such a charming film. In its simplicity, Ushpizin tells a Jewish christmass story, showing the wonders of blind faith even to the egnostic. This is the first film i've seen that has opened the Israeli religious people to the public - mostly to Israel's Secular population. And for that it deserves praise.