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Sunday, January 15 at 3:30pm Miami Theater Center
Monday, January 23 at 6pm Miami Theater Center

France-Italy | 101 minutes | 2022

Where Life Begins

Southeast US Premiere

In this beautifully rendered and sensitive love story set in Italy during the holiday of Sukkot, an ultra-orthodox Jewish family from France comes to a sunny, idyllic farm in Calabria for a brief stay every year to carry out a sacred mission: harvesting etrogs (citrons) perfect enough to be considered kosher. Hosting the large family on his estate is Elio (Riccardo Scamarcio, also at MJFF with The Shadow of the Day), an even-keeled, non-devout Catholic who is at loose ends since his wife left him. In this bucolic setting, Elio meets quick-tempered Esther, the rebellious rabbi’s daughter, who is trapped between affection for her family and the desire to emancipate herself from Orthodox life. At age 26, she is under much family pressure to marry. Through their time together, Esther discovers her own path, and Elio finds the inner peace he has long sought.

Director's Bio

Directed by Stéphane Freiss

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Stéphane Freiss is a French film, television, and stage actor who has appeared in more than 90 films, most notably in Agnes Varda’s Vagabond (1985) and Steven Spielberg’s Munich (2005). Where Life Begins is Stéphane’s directorial feature film debut.

Cast and Credits

Director

Stéphane Freiss

Screenwriter

Caroline Deruas-Garrel, Stéphane Freiss, Audrey Gordon

Cinematographer

Michele Paradisi

Editor

Aline Hervé

Cast

Lou de Laâge, Riccardo Scamarcio, Pierre-Henry Salfati

Film Info

Year

2022

Country

France-Italy

Run-time

101 minutes

Language

French and Italian with English subtitles
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