When filmmaker Nathan Silver’s mother decided to have a bat mitzvah in her mid-60s, little did he know that her story would become the inspiration for his latest movie. “Between the Temples,” a screwball comedy about a coming-of-age ceremony, is set to premiere at Sundance. The film stars Carol Kane and Jason Schwartzman, who bring to life the characters of an elderly bat mitzvah student and a depressed cantor, and their unlikely bond.
“It’s one from the heart,” says Silver. “It’s a story that touches on many aspects of my life.”
This film also gives Kane and Schwartzman, often scene-stealers in supporting roles, the opportunity to shine as leads. For Kane, signing on to the project was a leap of faith because Silver’s scripts, which he calls “scriptments,” are not traditional.
“It was intimidating,” Kane admits. “There are scenes and outlines, but it’s more of a blueprint. And then the actors get to add their own ideas and flesh it out.”
Schwartzman, on the other hand, found the looseness of the script gave the film a greater sense of authenticity. He described the experience as “wonderfully alive,” with room for improvisation and adding things in the moment.
The collaborative process on “Between the Temples” reminded Kane of working with Elaine May and John Cassavetes on a project called “Singles.” They would workshop scenes and dialogue before refining them. Unfortunately, that project didn’t get finished, but the experience was brilliant.
This film marks the first collaboration between Kane and Schwartzman, a pairing that was long overdue considering how effortlessly their offbeat acting styles blend.
“For Kane, playing a late-in-life student with unrealized ambitions touched something in herself. “We all have unfulfilled dreams,” she says.
In her illustrious career, working with directors like Sidney Lumet, Hal Ashby, and Mike Nichols, Kane still has a list of people she’s dying to work with (Marty Scorsese, are you reading this?). When it comes to choosing roles, Kane follows the advice she received from Madeline Kahn. “Make sure that there’s one thing about any project that, no matter what happens, will remain true. Maybe the role is amazing, or the money is good, or you get to work with an actor. No matter how it turns out, you’ll still have that one thing to remember.”
And as for Silver’s mother, while she never had her bat mitzvah, she did manage to score a small part in “Between the Temples.”
“She’s seen it and gave it a good review,” Silver proudly shares. “She’s the only critic that counts.”
For more information, read the full article on F5 Magazine’s website.