Keeping up with the Steins

By popular demand!

This coming of age ‘barmitzvah comedy’ is a warm and funny satire of some of the more ridiculous excesses of party themes versus religious rites. The Stein’s barmitzvah is the epitome of bad taste with a Titanic themed party, complete with a ship, icebergs and even a Kate Winslet lookalike. And how can you follow that? Next is the turn of Benjamin Fiedler who has to choose a rival theme.

As the guest list is being compiled, Benjamin defies his father’s wishes and secretly invites his grandfather, who has been estranged from the family for more than 25 years. Although Adam, Benjamin’s father, resents his own father’s sudden presence on the scene, it is this new relationship which holds the key to the warm heart of the film and finally gives meaning to Benjamin’s understanding of his coming-of-age ceremony and a new twist to the party. JI