Review of Ushpizin (2004) by George F — 21 Mar 2006

[color=green]Although it never made the local independent theatre until AFTER the DVD came out this year, this ranks right up there with [i]Crash[/i] as the best two movies of 2005. Not just the best foreign film, maybe THE best I saw from 2005.[/color].

[color=#008000][i]Ushpizin[/i] is fascinating because of its setting among the orthodox Jews of Jerusalem, but it succeeds because its characters are true to life and FULL of life and love and humanity. Rarely does an audience get a chance to be so engaged with such wonderful, wise and flawed characters as these! If you don't become deeply and utterly involved wi[/color][color=#008000]th these people within the first five minutes, then leave the theater, and never go to another movie. Or get a heart, and soul, transplant. Seriously.[/color].

[color=#008000]The modifier "uplifting" is frequently used to describe movies (some which do not deserve it) but the adjective was [b]invented [/b]to precede the title [i]Ushpizin[/i]. When a movie can actually substantially boost your mood for a sustained period, it deserves the highest rating. [/color].

[color=#008000][i]Crash[/i] made me think. [i]Ushpizin[/i] made me feel. That you can love two movies so vastly different is the magic of motion pictures.[/color].

[color=#008000]Movie Knight's Precise Knight Rating (PKR): 10[/color].

[color=#008000]Viewed at Spectrum 8 Cinema[/color].