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‘When Do We Eat?' DVD: a funny look at Passover
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BY: ALAN SMASON, Staff Reporter
The controversial film "When Do We Eat?” has just been released on DVD. The comedy, which was theatrically released in a few US markets (not Cleveland), has tragic elements within it.
The film forces us to examine contemporary American Jewish life, while it portrays one dysfunctional family's hilarious attempt at holding a Passover seder.
Director and co-writer Salvador Litvak's film can be viewed on several levels. On a strictly superficial level, we get an irreverent look at a family holding its first seder in three years. We learn in flashback that the previous seder ended in turmoil with the father, Ira Stuckman (Michael Lerner), throwing the seder plate at his ungrateful, materialistic oldest son, Ethan (Max Greenfield).
Ethan has now suffered a reversal of fortunes and, when faced with poverty, has chosen to become an observant Jew, replete with black suit, black hat and beard. His mother, Peggy, wonderfully underplayed by Lesley Ann Warren, entices Ethan to take part in another family seder by promising to make it "kosher enough for Moses.”
All the offspring carry some aspect of troubled American society to the seder table. Jennifer (Meredith Scott Lynn), the oldest daughter, is a product of Ira's first failed marriage. She brings her African-American and lesbian partner, Grace (Cynda Williams), with her. The aptly named Grace serves to inspire the other family members through a joyous haggadah reading that seems downright evangelical.
Nikki (Shiri Appleby), the younger daughter, proclaims how important her chosen career as "a sexual surrogate” is to her clients and to her concept of self-worth. Her mother is understandably upset that she is selling her body, while her father is relieved to know that she is able to support herself.
The remaining two sons barely function. Zeke (Ben Feldman) is in a stupor from too much recreational drug use, while Lionel (Adam Lamberg) hides under a mask of deception as an autistic idiot savant.
Even the father's chosen career as a successful manufacturer of Christmas ornaments is fodder both for comedic and tragic examination. Several key scenes show interiors of the Stuckmans' Jewish home adorned with Santa Claus paintings and small, brightly lit Christmas trees bearing colorful ornaments. Yet we learn that Ira, a Holocaust survivor, was drawn to make ornaments because the family that hid him during World War II gave him one as a present.
Ira promises to hold "the fastest seder on earth.” Nothing goes as planned, however, and it's not long before the replacement Seder dish suffers a similar fate to that of its predecessor.
Other guests at the table include the Stuckmans' lusty and beautiful cousin (Mili Avital), who sets out to seduce the now-observant Ethan, when her cell phone isn't ringing with a Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus” ringtone.
Rafi (Mark Ivanir), the eyepatch-wearing Israeli tent designer whom Peggy has hired for the event, is alleged to be her "gigolo.”
Jack Klugman is Ira's stentorian and unforgiving father, Artur. Klugman turns in a strong performance as a man unable to tell his surviving son that he loves him, while still blaming the Nazis for the loss of his wife, daughter and other two sons.
Litvak based the seder scenes on the Szyk Haggadah which he had read during the seders of his youth. The colorful special effects of singing prophets and depictions of sparks flying up to meet God add comic accent to otherwise pedestrian scenes. Traditional melodies by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and others, as well as contemporary and reggae selections with irreverent Jewish lyrics, are fitting accompaniments to the action.
In the end, when all of the comic elements are peeled away, there is a redemption for the entire family, much like the redemption of the Jewish people celebrated at Passover.
While it probably will never replace Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments,” Litvak's "When Do We Eat?” succeeds much more than it fails. Because of its forthright sexuality, frank language and drug usage, many will find the DVD not appropriate for younger audiences or Jewish audiences at all. However, the film does have a very satisfying culmination, including a surprise ending, in which what you see is not necessarily what you get.
"When Do We Eat?” (1:33) is available on DVD ($24.98) from local video stores or can be ordered online at http://www.whendoweeat.com.
asmason@cjn.org
The film forces us to examine contemporary American Jewish life, while it portrays one dysfunctional family's hilarious attempt at holding a Passover seder.
Director and co-writer Salvador Litvak's film can be viewed on several levels. On a strictly superficial level, we get an irreverent look at a family holding its first seder in three years. We learn in flashback that the previous seder ended in turmoil with the father, Ira Stuckman (Michael Lerner), throwing the seder plate at his ungrateful, materialistic oldest son, Ethan (Max Greenfield).
Ethan has now suffered a reversal of fortunes and, when faced with poverty, has chosen to become an observant Jew, replete with black suit, black hat and beard. His mother, Peggy, wonderfully underplayed by Lesley Ann Warren, entices Ethan to take part in another family seder by promising to make it "kosher enough for Moses.”
All the offspring carry some aspect of troubled American society to the seder table. Jennifer (Meredith Scott Lynn), the oldest daughter, is a product of Ira's first failed marriage. She brings her African-American and lesbian partner, Grace (Cynda Williams), with her. The aptly named Grace serves to inspire the other family members through a joyous haggadah reading that seems downright evangelical.
Nikki (Shiri Appleby), the younger daughter, proclaims how important her chosen career as "a sexual surrogate” is to her clients and to her concept of self-worth. Her mother is understandably upset that she is selling her body, while her father is relieved to know that she is able to support herself.
The remaining two sons barely function. Zeke (Ben Feldman) is in a stupor from too much recreational drug use, while Lionel (Adam Lamberg) hides under a mask of deception as an autistic idiot savant.
Even the father's chosen career as a successful manufacturer of Christmas ornaments is fodder both for comedic and tragic examination. Several key scenes show interiors of the Stuckmans' Jewish home adorned with Santa Claus paintings and small, brightly lit Christmas trees bearing colorful ornaments. Yet we learn that Ira, a Holocaust survivor, was drawn to make ornaments because the family that hid him during World War II gave him one as a present.
Ira promises to hold "the fastest seder on earth.” Nothing goes as planned, however, and it's not long before the replacement Seder dish suffers a similar fate to that of its predecessor.
Other guests at the table include the Stuckmans' lusty and beautiful cousin (Mili Avital), who sets out to seduce the now-observant Ethan, when her cell phone isn't ringing with a Handel's "Hallelujah Chorus” ringtone.
Rafi (Mark Ivanir), the eyepatch-wearing Israeli tent designer whom Peggy has hired for the event, is alleged to be her "gigolo.”
Jack Klugman is Ira's stentorian and unforgiving father, Artur. Klugman turns in a strong performance as a man unable to tell his surviving son that he loves him, while still blaming the Nazis for the loss of his wife, daughter and other two sons.
Litvak based the seder scenes on the Szyk Haggadah which he had read during the seders of his youth. The colorful special effects of singing prophets and depictions of sparks flying up to meet God add comic accent to otherwise pedestrian scenes. Traditional melodies by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and others, as well as contemporary and reggae selections with irreverent Jewish lyrics, are fitting accompaniments to the action.
In the end, when all of the comic elements are peeled away, there is a redemption for the entire family, much like the redemption of the Jewish people celebrated at Passover.
While it probably will never replace Cecil B. DeMille's "The Ten Commandments,” Litvak's "When Do We Eat?” succeeds much more than it fails. Because of its forthright sexuality, frank language and drug usage, many will find the DVD not appropriate for younger audiences or Jewish audiences at all. However, the film does have a very satisfying culmination, including a surprise ending, in which what you see is not necessarily what you get.
"When Do We Eat?” (1:33) is available on DVD ($24.98) from local video stores or can be ordered online at http://www.whendoweeat.com.
asmason@cjn.org
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