Between the Temples is an off-beat whimsical Jewish comedy by Nathan Silver about finding love starring Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane. The film debuted at Sundance 2024.
Ben (Schwartzman) has lost his voice since his wife’s passing. He is a Jewish cantor looking to regain his voice. He’s living with his lesbian mothers (Caroline Aaron and Dolly de Leon) in their upstate New York house.
He meets Carla (Kane), his former music teacher. She rescues him from a drunken stooper. Ben tells her he teaches students to prepare for their bat mitzvah. She tells Ben that although she was born Jewish, she never had a bat mitzvah and asks Ben to take her on as a student. She enamored by this younger man, once her student. How she wants to be his student.
Ben tries to brush her off, but she appeals to the Rabbi Bruce (Robbert Smigel) who agrees with her. The two start to bond and Ben starts to take a liking to her. Ben’s mother has a different plan. They try to match him with Rabbi Bruces much younger daughter.
When Carla’s son (Matthew Shear) who is married with two young children finds out that there is something going on with Ben and Carla, he tries push Ben away. Ben falls hopelessly in love with Carla, which shocks everyone.
This film shows us that love has no age or bounds. It shows a loving same sex relationship, and it breaks typical relationship norms. This is heart worming New York Jewish story at time when there is so much hate in the world including the rise of antisemitism. Critics are calling his “warmest” work to date. The script is by Silver and C. Mason Wells who also co-wrote award-winning Thirst Street.