Ushpizin

Aroview: Respectful and dryly humorous parable of an ultra-Orthodox Jewish couple on the eve of the festival of Succoth, who invite two travellers seeking shelter into their home, pleased to be able to receive 'holy guests' on such an occasion and hoping it heralds the divine blessing they have been waiting for.

As it turns out however, these are escaped convicts, including a former criminal partner of the now-pious husband of the house, who can't quite believe the domestication of his former hardman pal. Accesses a rare cinematic vein of Hasidic humour that is refreshing viewing, even while culminating with an obligatory moral lesson.