MINYAN
A closeted young man in 1980s New York City struggles to reconcile his strict Russian Jewish upbringing with his burgeoning sexuality in this intimate coming-of-age drama.
Raised in the tight-knight Russian Jewish enclave of Brighton Beach, 17-year-old David (standout newcomer Samuel H. Levine) is a dutiful follower of his family’s religious traditions. Yet, despite his strictly observant upbringing, something about David is different, itching for a life beyond the confines of his insular community. After going to live with his recently widowed grandfather (Ron Rifkin), David befriends the two elderly men living next door, whose unique relationship provides David with unexpected insight into his own possible path. Meanwhile, David begins to frequent the bars of the East Village, which provide a haven for gay men even as the specter of HIV/AIDS casts its shadow over the community. At one of these bars, David meets and strikes up a relationship with a brooding, handsome bartender (Alex Hurt). Sensitively tracking its protagonist’s journey to come to terms with the seemingly contradictory pieces of his identity, MINYAN is a subtle film, revealing multitudes about its characters’ sublimated desires through the astuteness of Eric Steel’s direction and the lived-in performances of his cast.
CAST: Samuel H. Levine, Ron Rifkin, Christopher McCann, Mark Margolis
All sales are final. You must be located within the United States to stream this film. We suggest prioritizing your lineup and watching films as close to the premiere time as possible. This title will be available until November 2nd or until streaming capacity is reached.
CLICK HERE to return to the complete 29th Philadelphia Film Festival program.