Well, It's A Movie

USC Prof Makes A Movie

ABOUT OUT OF FAITH

Out of Faith is an intimate and emotional portrait of three generations of a family being pulled apart by conflicts over interfaith marriage. Like many young Americans whose families come from other cultures, Cheryl Welbel feels pressure to choose between marrying for love vs marrying someone of her own faith, in order to "perpetuate her people". Cheryl feels exceptional pressure from her grandparents -- both survived almost three years in Auschwitz, and feel that if Cheryl marries someone "not Jewish" she will be "helping to finish the job that Hitler started."

As Out of Faith begins, Leah, the family matriarch, has not spoken to Danny, her first grandchild to "marry out," for six years. Leah tries a different approach with Cheryl, showering her with love and attention, hoping that by keeping the lines of communication open she will be able to convince Matt to convert to Judaism. Cheryl resists. The film follows the Welbel family over three years as they try to resolve these issues. Just as Leah's first great-grandchild is born, an unexpected event occurs that will either reconcile three generations, or render them torn for good.

The film is a Jewish prism of the classic American story - immigration, assimilation, and ensuing angst. The film challenges audiences to consider how we can honor & preserve our faith and culture while assimilating into our diverse mainstream society. Over a year of screenings at festivals, theaters, and community centers, the film has generated intensely emotional discussions about assimilation, conflicting loyalties, cultural continuity, and the wrenching consequences of family estrangement.

In English. Running time: 82 minutes.

An hour-long version will air on KCET on Sunday, May 10th at 4:00PM.

I got through one and a half sentences of the description before yawning and clicking on something else.