An Israeli drama with humour set in the customarily closed world of ultra-Orthodox Jews. Moshe and Malli, a married couple, are suffering through a financial crisis and so naturally they pray for help, but instead of a miracle two suspect strangers with criminal pasts appear on their doorstep. The film is reportedly the first made by members of the Israeli ultra-Orthodox community that is aimed at a general audience.
In Jerusalem's orthodox neighborhoods, it's Succoth, seven days celebrating life's essentials in a sukkot, a temporary shack of both deprivation and hospitality. A devout couple, Moshe and Mali, married nearly five years and childless, are broke and praying for a miracle. Suddenly, miracles abound: a friend finds Moshe a sukkot he says is abandoned, Moshe is the beneficiary of local charitable fundraising, and two escaped convicts arrive on Moshe and Mali's doorstep in time to be their ushpizin - their guests. The miracles then become trials. Rabbinical advice, absolution, an effort to avoid anger, and a 1000-shekel citron figure in Moshe's dark night of the soul.
Israel Movie Drama 2004, 90 min
Also known as "Holy Guests" in its international distribution, Rated PG
Won 2004 Israeli Film Academy Award - Best Actor: Shuli Rand
Nominated 2004 Israeli Film Academy
