LA MESA, California – Transmitzvah, 2024 is directed and cowritten by Daniel Burman with Ariel Gurevich his writing partner. The film is a comedy drama, dubbed in English on Netflix but takes place in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ruben Singman is the youngest son of Miriam and Aron Singman who are the owners of a huge clothing store “Singman Modas.” Ruben is preparing for his Bar Mitzvah and getting fitted for his powder blue tuxedo. As the family waits for the great reveal, he comes out in an elegant dress and sings a song he has been practicing.
His parents and family applaud him and enjoy the performance but want him to come out in his powder blue tuxedo. Ruben tells them if he cannot come in this dress and hair and makeup, then he will not be attending his Bar Mitzvah. So, the celebration is cancelled.
Years later, Ruben transitioned to Mumy and became a famous Yiddish singer celebrity. She returns to Buenos Aires with her boyfriend Sergio to perform at the San Martin Theatre with her family in attendance. Her relationship has always been strained with her father, but her mother was very accepting from the beginning. She reconnects with her older brother Eduardo who is a father and in the process of divorce.
Mumy and Eduardo embark on a journey for Mumy to fulfill her dream of having a Bat Mitzvah now as an adult. They go to many synagogues and many sects of Judaism where they found many (they did not mention which sects) were unaccepting as Mumy was born a man and now a woman.
They found a rabbi and congregation in Spain that would welcome her to celebrate her Bat Mitzvah. In the ending scenes, Mumy is surrounded by women in white and all singing and praising her.
I found this to be a very emotional experience. Having children myself, I will love and accept them for who they love or identify with. I am a huge ally across the board and will always be their biggest cheerleader.
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Cailin Acosta is the assistant editor of the San Diego Jewish World.
Very enlightening and interesting thank you for the review Cailin. Where can it be found to view?
Hi Sue, it is on Netflix. You can search “Transmitzvah,” or I did type in “Jewish,” and I had my pick of movies that popped up labeled Jewish. But no subtitles to have to squint at, which is good since then I can knit as a watch :).