JIFF: Sabbath Queen

The Story

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

Cast

Rabbi Amichai, Lau-Lavie

Director

Sandi DuBowski