A crisis of faith, a mid-life crisis or a late-in-life coming-of-age story? Between the Temples is a confused on what the point of the movie is, or where it actually is going. Following the story of Ben (Jason Schwartzman), a Jewish Cantor who seems to have lost his ability to sing after the loss of his wife. But his wife’s death, puts Ben (rightly so) in turmoil, but finding his new path takes him back to his past in the most unlikely way.
When his former music teacher Carla (Carol Kane) becomes his student, Ben’s life is once again turned on its head. All the good intentions of his overbearing mothers, and trying set him up with countless women seem to be going out the window as he tries to find his footing again.
The relationship between Ben and Carla seems more like the mother/son relationship that both crave and the balance that both are looking for. But somewhere along the way, the lines seem to blur emotionally at least. It doesn’t seem like there’s a hint of a romantic connection between the two until Ben talks about it at towards the end. But that explains him bending countless rules for her within his professional practice.
Maybe there is more that isn’t visible to the casual viewer. Someone who isn’t in the Jewish faith and traditions. Maybe there’s actually a lot more to the story that is lost without that context. But the story doesn’t seem to lend towards that. Instead, it meanders and takes viewers through almost a pointless story.
Between the Temples seems a bit confused about its direction, or really what it wants to be. It does have moments of humor peppered throughout it, but overall, the movie drags in other points. Is it supposed to be a comedy? A late-in-life-coming-of-age story? A drama? or a love story? It’s hard to tell, and honestly, it feels like the movie is as confused about its purpose as Ben is about his faith. But maybe that is the point. With no real resolution or anything that felt like a direction or point, Between the Temples may not be a hard-to-watch film, but will be one that is harder for audiences to stick with and to finish the movie.
Hitting theaters this weekend, Between The Temples seems like a movie that will only bring in audiences who are going to see their favorite actor on the screen.
Overall Rating
About Between The Temples
A cantor (Jason Schwartzman) in a crisis of faith finds his world turned upside down when his grade school music teacher (Carol Kane) re-enters his life as his new adult Bat Mitzvah student.