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08/25/07
Trembling Before G-d (2001)
89 %
Reviews Counted: 61 Fresh: 54 Rotten:7 Average Rating: 7.1/10
Consensus:
Trembling Before G-d looks at the effects of religious morality on believers whose sexuality falls outside the accepted norm with intelligence and compassion.
Runtime: 84 mins
Synopsis: Trembling Before G-d is an unprecedented feature documentary that shatters assumptions about faith, sexuality, and religious fundamentalism. Built around intimately-told personal stories of Hasidic and Orthodox Jews who are gay or lesbian, the film portrays a group of people who face a... [More]
Genre: Education/General Interest
Starring: Steve Greenberg, Shlomo Ashkinazy
Reviews
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07/08/03
Top Critic
This insightful documentary simmers with a fury that's passionate enough not to need spelling out.
05/20/03
Top Critic
Powerful documentary about the struggle of gay and lesbian orthodox Jews to reconcile their beliefs and their desires
05/04/07
Trembling Before G-d, by no stretch a well constructed documentary film, is an important breakthrough for Jewish orthodoxy because ignoring a consistent problem helps no one.
11/30/04
The film helpfully translates onscreen some of the Hebrew words of the interviewees for the benefit of goyim whose only exposure to the Hasidim has been Yentl.
11/02/03
the human face it puts on the objects of intolerance speaks to discrimination at large in all its ugly forms. Its a moving and important piece of filmmaking
04/05/03
It offers several interesting insights into the seemingly incongruous matters of homosexuality and orthodox religion.
02/15/03
A heavy subject for any filmmaker to broach, and it definitely exceeds the skills of first-time director Sandi Simcha Dubowski.
02/14/03
Moving and, ultimately, hopeful -- a hope that extends further than most documentaries allow.
12/12/02
A unique documentary about the crisis confronting gay and lesbian Jews who wish to remain part of the Orthodox and Hasidic branches of Judaism.
12/12/02
This portrayal never becomes anything more than a typical 'talking heads' doc.
12/08/02
Everyone, including adherents of other faiths which treat gays much the same, should find food for thought in this fine film.
10/21/02
the Orthodox and Hasidic Jewish version of Arthur Dong's superior Family Fundamentals.
10/03/02
Scores points courtesy of its deeply interesting subject matter... [but director] DuBowski doesn’t ask the truly tough psychoanalytical questions of her subjects.
09/12/02
Suprisingly, the documentary is so free of rancour and so filled with love for the religion that it has actually inspired some audience members to raise their hands after screenings and ask how they can convert.
08/03/02
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