Simchas and Sorrows (Next Wave Spotlight)

Next Wave Spotlight

Agnes, a former Catholic school girl turned atheist, wrestles with an unplanned pregnancy, a proposal and pressure from her future in-laws to convert to Judaism in order to marry the love of her life, Levi. When Agnes and Levi enroll in a Judaism class taught by the progressive, feminist Rabbi Cohen, played by Hari Nef (And Just Like That and Transparent), they are left with more questions than answers about how to practice their beliefs at home and navigate their families’ expectations. As an actress, playwright and drama teacher, Agnes feels overwhelmed by a combination of Catholic and Jewish guilt to please the people around her, finding wisdom from a group of elementary school students wise beyond their years. Structured around the Jewish holiday calendar, this quirky, dramatic comedy (with a great soundtrack) grapples with themes of addiction and loss and features a twist ending involving Jewish identity.