THE AWAKENING OF MOTTI WOLKENBRUCH

Switzerland, 2019, 95 minutes, Colour.
Joel Basman, Noemie Schmidt, Udo Samel, Sunnyi Melles, Inge Maux.
Directed by Michael Steiner.

This is a Swiss film with a Jewish subject. It would play well with liberal Jews all over the world but may not be so popular with more Orthodox communities.

Joel Basman is the young Motti, living with an archetypal Jewish mother (with the touch of the caricature throughout the film) and a benign father. Her intention is that he meet a nice girl and that a marriage be arranged. She makes several attempts. Motti is finding his own life, resisting his mother’s arrangements. He is also going to college, sees a girl there and is attracted, meeting, discussing, his awakening and feeling liberated.

Meanwhile, with his refusal to agree to arrangements to meet girls for arranged marriages, he is advised to go to Israel, meets a very liberal group concentrating on contemplation and chakras, has a sexual encounter was a girl there, returns home.

When he does have an encounter with the girl back home, she states she is not ready for a relationship. He is upset, bewildered, leaves home, his mother telling the news that he had been killed in an accident, his father inviting him to dinner. His future?

1. A Jewish story? Coming-of-age? Orthodox Jews? The Swiss setting?

2. The Swiss city, homes, synagogue, rabbis’ offices, college? The musical score?

3. The title, the focus on Motti, his appearance, Orthodox Jewish, his age, hair, glasses, beard? The strictness of his household? The dominance of his mother? The benign attitude of his father? Expectations about his marriage? The impact on him, wanting to be independent, going to college, lectures, the encounter with Laura, his fascination, following her?

4. His parents, the character’s mother, the archetypal Jewish mother, emotions, tantrums, domination, of her husband? Traditions and regulations? Arrangements for Motti to meet girls, formalities, the parents, the two not knowing each other? The mother and the young girl, her rebellion, she and Motti talking, the plan to pretend? His mother is upset, the car crash, breaking his glasses, independently choosing new glasses frame, the advice to trim his beard, take his beard off? The effect of the transformation?

5. Working with his father, economics, insurance? The meeting with the dying woman, using the cards to tell his future, her cancer, wanting to charity, her influence, his final visit to her?

6. Laura, her character, interest in Motti, Yiddish, lectures, talking, her work in the club, his visits? His breaking free? Drinking, in love? Imagining bringing Laura home and his mother’s reaction – and the later reaction in reality?

7. Motti and his friend, the discussions, the encounter with the girl and their planned engagement?

8. Motti, his rebellion, the meals, the discussions, antagonism towards his mother, her carrying on? Going to the rabbi, his recommendation to go to Israel?

9. The visitor’s, the liberal rabbi and his wife, the exercises and the clientele, very open? The interactions with the girl, the sexual encounter? His return home?

10. Contact with Laura, the return from Israel, the night together? Her telling him that she was not ready for a relationship? His reaction?

11. The fuss at home, his mother disowning him, his father’s support? Seeing him sitting on the park bench and the camera rising – his future?