The tango Rashevski

Le Tango des Rashevski
Belgian-Luxembourg-French romantic drama, 90 min, 2003
A nice, liberal Jewish family in the everyday life of chaotic and non-everyday Belgium. Woody Allen's European style, the composer of the music of Mood for Love.
Director:
Sam Garbarski

Adolphe 'Dolfo' Rashevski travels to Israel with grandson Ric, but his brother, orthodox rabbi Samuel 'Shmouel, refuses to come attend their fellow Auschwitz survivor sister Rosa's funeral. Back in their home, the whole well-integrated family and their 'gojim' (non-Jewish and would-be) partners regularly wrestle with the meaning of Jewish blood, traditions and religion. For one it seems the way to gain a wife, for others the bomb under or the obstacle for a marriage. Yet love tends to conquer all but death. Written by KGF Vissers

Synopsis:
Director Sam Garbarski marked his feature film directorial debut in 2003 with the family-comedy drama Le Tango des Rashevski (The Rashevski Tango), a tale of one extended family's struggle to find meaning and identity within their own somewhat dormant Jewish heritage. When 81-year-old family matriarch Rosa Rashevski passes away, her descendants are left unprepared, as they have no idea what traditional Jewish rites they should be practicing. As a result, various Rashevski begin some rather intense periods of spiritual introspection, ranging from Rosa's granddaughter Nina's (Tania Gabarski, daughter of the director) proclamation to start and raise a Jewish family to grandson -- and former Israeli military man -- Rica's (Rudi Rosenberg) turbulent relationship with his Muslim girlfriend, Khadija (Selma Kouchy). To further complicate matters, a non-Jewish family friend named Antoine (Hippolyte Girardot) shows up at the funeral and strikes up a conversation with Nina, whom he used to baby-sit when they were both younger. As he grows more fond of the young woman and becomes intent on making her his wife, he learns of her intentions to have a Jewish family and tries to find a solution that would make the young woman reconsider him as a suitor.

~ Ryan Shriver, All Movie Guide