JIFF: Sabbath Queen
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Sabbath Queen
Australian Premiere
“Awe-inspiring. Enthralling. Sabbath Queen is a rich and intimate portrait… One of the best films I’ve seen this year." - The Hollywood Report
“An unforgettable protagonist... transformative… incredibly timely…one to watch for awards season." - Hammer to Nail
Filmed over 21 years, Sabbath Queen follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie’s epic journey as the dynastic heir of 38 generations of Orthodox rabbis, including the Chief Rabbis of Israel.
He is torn between rejecting and embracing his destiny and becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer father, and the founder of Lab/Shul: an everybody-friendly, God-optional, artist-driven, pop-up experimental congregation.
Sabbath Queen joins Amichai on a lifelong quest to creatively and radically reinvent religion and ritual, challenge patriarchy and supremacy, champion interfaith love, and stand up for peace. The film interrogates what Jewish survival means in a difficult and rapidly changing 21st century.
Festivals and Awards
Official Selection - Tribeca Film Festival, 2024
Official Selection - IDFA, 2024
Rating
Unclass15
Duration
105 min
Language
English, Hebrew, Yiddish (English subtitles)
Cast
Rabbi Amichai, Lau-Lavie
Director
Sandi DuBowski
