Overview

Menashe, a kind grocery store clerk, struggles to make ends meet and responsibly parent his young son, Rieven, following his wife Leah´s death. Tradition prohibits Menashe from raising his son alone.

• Review

  Menashe is the story of a man who got separated from his son because of the strong Jewish community tradition. Menashe is a widower, a cashier and a proud father to his son. However, due to the community discipline he is allowed to be with his son every now and then. Can Menashe break the prejudice that a widower cannot raise a child? The conflict between father and son is common in family drama, but Menashe has a different outcome. The value of this film lies in a realistic depiction of the stubborn Jewish community social conditions. Documentary director Joshua Z. Weinstein transcends the expectation of family drama by fully utilizing his character and the environment. Weinstein cast most of the actors in an actual Jewish community. Menashe´s fatherly affection to his son is revealed through delicate relationship depiction. [JANG Byungwon]
  

• Credit

  Director	IIZUKA Toshimitsu
  Screenplay	IIZUKA Toshimitsu
  Producer	WADA Takashi, TSUYUK Eiji
  Cinematography	NOGUCHI Kenji
  Art Director	ANDO Hidetoshi
  Editor	IIZUKA Toshimitsu, SATO Toshiyuki
  Sound	Chinsui SON
  Music	KOJIMA Ichiro, KATO Fumitaka
  Cast	OKAYAMA Amane, TAKEDA Rena, TSURUMI Shingo, MIHO Jun, SHIMOJO Atomu

Director

Joshua Z. WEINSTEIN

He directed the feature documentaries Drivers Wanted(2012) and Flying on One Engine(2008). His recent director of photography credits include Elaine Stritch: Shoot Me, Code of the West(2013), and the forthcoming Bikini Moon(2017). He has been nominated for a Cannes Lion for his advertising work and won a first place POY award for his work with The New York Times. Menashe marks his debut as a director of narrative fiction.