The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch
An Orthodox Jewish student’s attraction to an unconventional woman turns family matchmaking into a witty rebellion against inherited expectations.
Ember's analysis
- Pacing
- Brisk
- Intensity
- Mild
- Complexity
- Easy to follow
- Violence
- None
- witty
- awkward
- irreverent
- date night
- lazy sunday
What critics said
Critics broadly found the film an entertaining culture-clash comedy with appealing romantic energy, though its modest aggregate ratings suggest uneven execution.
What sets it apart
May contain story progression spoilers
Motti is expected to follow his parents' predetermined path toward marriage while becoming attracted to Laura, a non-Jewish woman who violates his family's expectations.
Motti's passion for Laura, described by his community as a schikse, directly conflicts with Orthodox Jewish expectations.
Laura's pants, drinking, swearing, and unconventional demeanor are repeatedly contrasted with Motti's mother's matchmaking rituals and Orthodox household.
Motti's obedience fades as his attraction grows, but his conclusion that schiksen can also be 'nuts' keeps his awakening comic and ambivalent rather than idealized.
Films like The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch, and why
My Big Fat Greek Wedding
shared fish out of water humor, romantic rebellion, and conflict between individual desire and family expectations
The Wedding Banquet
shared culture clash comedy, unconventional romance, and pressure from a traditional family community
Bend It Like Beckham
shared witty coming-of-age romance centered on resisting restrictive social expectations
Movie Details
- Director
- Michael Steiner
- Release Date
- 2018-07-05
- Runtime
- 94 min
- Rating
- 6.0 / 10 (161)
Cast
- Noémie Schmidt
- Joel Basman
- Sunnyi Melles
- Udo Samel
- Inge Maux
- Alexander Seibt
- Oriana Schrage
- Philippe Graber
- Kamil Krejčí
- Lena Kalisch
Where to watch in United States
- Streaming
- Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads
Streaming options come from TMDB and change over time.
Common questions
- What is The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch about?
- An Orthodox Jewish student’s attraction to an unconventional woman turns family matchmaking into a witty rebellion against inherited expectations.
- What is The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch like to watch?
- Ember's analysis rates the pacing of The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch as brisk, its intensity as mild and its storytelling as easy to follow.
- Is The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch violent?
- No — Ember's analysis finds no violence in The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch.
- What did critics think of The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch?
- Critics broadly found the film an entertaining culture-clash comedy with appealing romantic energy, though its modest aggregate ratings suggest uneven execution.
- Which films are like The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch?
- Films with a similar feel include My Big Fat Greek Wedding, The Wedding Banquet, and Bend It Like Beckham.
- How long is The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch?
- The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch runs 94 minutes.
- Where can I watch The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch?
- In United States, The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch streams on Netflix, Netflix Standard with Ads.
