How shooting a guerrilla-style feature film with non-actors and limited resources brought us one of the best, most brilliantly crafted films of the year.
All images via A24.
Prepare to be captivated by one of the most engaging and talked-about films to come out of Sundance this year. With a stellar distribution deal from A24, Menashe has solidified its success and garnered praise for its creators. This groundbreaking film, filmed entirely in Yiddish, tells the story of a father who must give up his son after the death of his wife, due to the strict standards of his Hasidic community. It takes audiences on a funny yet emotional journey through the lives of Menashe and his son as they spend their remaining time together.
We had the opportunity to speak with the film’s director, Joshua Weinstein, and the director of photography, Yoni Brook, about the challenging process of shooting a film with limited funds on the Canon C300.
Production
We asked Weinstein why he and DP Yoni Brook chose to shoot a film like Menashe.
We were not interested in making Hollywood films … studio-type movies. We loved exploring New York City. Around every corner, there’s something new and unexpected.
When you think of New York City, you think of three things. The Empire State Building, yellow taxis, and black-hatted Hasidic Jews.
Weinstein knew that there was a film he could make in the thriving Jewish community.
The journey through production was an arduous labor of love. Whether it was dealing with unreliable cast and crew, or finding the necessary funding mid-production, roadblock after roadblock only inspired the director to keep moving toward the finish line.
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