Matchmaking 2
Saturday, May 16 | 8:00 p.m. | Berney Theatre | Asper Jewish Community Campus
Romantic Comedy | Israel | 2024 | Director: Erez Tadmor | Hebrew with English Subtitles | 100 minutes | 18A
Film Trailer | Tickets
Matchmaking 2 is charming very humorous fun loving rom-com, which I highly recommend. The 2014 film is the sequel to Erez Tadmor’s extremely popular 2022 comedy about dating in the ultra-Orthodox world.
The film takes you into the ultra-orthodox world of dates arranged by matchmakers, which often take place in hotel lobbies over one soft drink each. The film begins its focus with Moti, an Ashkenazi who falls for a Sephardi girl, Nechama as their parents argue over details of the wedding. I won’t gave away much humour but there is a moment where the parents are looking for an apartment in B’nei Brak for the young couple, but the deal is scuttled because there is a hidden clause in the promo for the place that says anyone who eats kitniyot can’t live there (Kitniyot are a class of foods including rice and corn which Ashkenazi Jews don’t eat on Passover but Sephardi Jews do). Another scene is at the Shabbat table where no one can eat because the fridge has a problem and light will be on if they go to get the food.
The film turns its focus onto Baruch who is getting older and is still single. Baruch does odd jobs for Malki, a matchmaker who keeps setting him up new dates, including a woman who carries a huge teddy bear which needs its own seat in the hotel lobby. How could she have not known about the bear, a frustrated Baruch asks Malki? Malki lets Baruch know her daughter is out of his league and begins setting them both up with other people. Baruch realizes he’s been downgraded as a level 2 or 3 date and is upset with Malki, but she asks him to pick up her attractive daughter, Shira at the airport on a Friday afternoon. He is smitten with the daughter as soon as he sees her.
‘But Maki sets him up with Ruth a nice women who is not interested in as he’s pining over Shira. Malki asks Baruch to suggest someone for Shira. He chooses his nerdiest friend, Moishi an ambulance driver and paramedic, not considered a good catch since being a bright yeshiva student is valued more.
The endearing, delightful movie is full of warmth and will bring viewers many smiles. It has many “only in Israel” moments. One can relate to the characters portrayed and the acting is fine. This charming film will not disappoint,
