The Women's Balcony

A close-knit congregation fractures along gender lines after a catastrophe at their synagogue in this nicely observed, feel-good feminist film. Beginning with a bar mitzvah and culminating with a wedding, the story centers on a community of lively and relaxed Sephardic Jews who enjoy coming together as a community and revere their elderly spiritual leader, Rabbi Menashe. But when the titular balcony collapses during a bar mitzvah the rabbi's wife is severely injured. The rabbi, already in poor health, can't cope with the disaster. Lacking a place of worship as well as the services of an ordained religious leader, the men of the congregation are thrilled when the charismatic, ultra-orthodox seminarian Rabbi David helps them make a minyan. But Rabbi David's rigid style of religious observation doesn't sit so well with their wives. (Palm Springs International Film Festival)