Run time: 111 mins

Jason Schwartzman and Carol Kane make a perfect match in Nathan Silver’s offbeat comedy.

In a grimy, awkward world that painfully mirrors our own, Ben Gottlieb, grieving and isolated, lives with his overbearing mothers. A cantor who’s lost his wife and his voice, Ben struggles with his faith until he reconnects with his lively childhood music teacher, Carla. Their unlikely friendship rekindles his spirituality, as Ben teaches Carla about Judaism, and she revives his zest for life.

Silver thoughtfully explores the complex relationship between Jewish mothers and their sons, alongside the masculine self-loathing that has long been a staple of Jewish comedy and film. But burning through the film’s acidic humour is a surprisingly optimistic screenplay. Schwartzman shines in an unexpected role. Unlike his usual polished characters, Schwartzman portrays Ben as an awkward, emotionally transparent man who constantly finds himself at the centre of attention. In a world of emotional chaos, Ben’s connection with Carla becomes an anchor, grounding them both. Where they’ve so often stumbled through embarrassment and constant chatter, there is a tender sweetness when they’re together. It’s an oddball utopia, where even the simplest moments of connection offer joy and comfort