“A rare window into a highly insular community that is often misunderstood, or tacitly sanctioned for fear of stoking anti-Semitism.” (IndieWire)
Oscar-nominated filmmakers Heidi Ewing and Rachel Grady (Jesus Camp) penetrate one of the most insular communities in North America, that of New York’s Hasidic Jews, who live by a strict code that discourages contact with outsiders. In what feels like a thriller, this documentary introduces us to three people who are driven to break away from their closed society, despite threats of retaliation. Etty, who was forced into marriage at 19, birthed seven children by age 29, and recounts a history of spousal abuse. Luzer, in his late 20s, broke ties with his family to pursue his dreams as an actor. Eighteen-year-old Ari, suffering from the trauma of sexual abuse, wants to explore a different way of life. Ultimately, One of Us asks what it means to separate oneself from everything that’s familiar.
Tickets: $10 (members), $15 (nonmembers)