Loving Lea (2009)******

Seen on 4-8-2009 - Star Movies
Cast: Adam Kaufman (Jake), Lauren Ambrose (Lea), Christy Pusz (Carol--Jake fiance)
Dir.: JEFF BLECKNER---WATCHOUT-DIRECTOR
Writer: PNENAH GOLDSTEIN -- WATCHOUT SCRIPT WRITER
"When his rabbi brother dies, Jake (Adam Kaufman), a 30-year-old cardiologist, is called upon to marry the widow, Leah (Lauren Ambrose), under orthodox Jewish law. While initially just going through the motions to satisfy their mothers (Mercedes Ruehl and Susie Essman), the two soon find themselves in love. Ricki Lake is the rabbi who helps Leah through her new situation, and Christy Pusz co-stars as Jake's confused girlfriend." --Netflix summary
My Comments: 1. Going by the story and its sensitive handling, this film ought to get 5-star rating. The slow gradual complex processes by which the agreed relationships make a turn about and surprisingly get changed is imaginatively handled. The script makes this turn-about entirely convincing.
2. This touching movie recalls "Ek Chadar Mailee Si" in its theme and story.
3. The script and direction and acting performances rise to searing heights to create several memorable moments in the film. (i) When Lea goes away unannounced for the first sabbah, Jake is worried and when his girlfriend suggests that she must have left to have fun, his value-neutral defense that she is not that kind of person naturally result in unintended hurt feelings in her, leading to irreparable damage in their relationship. (ii) To assuage his guilt feeling over wronging her dead brother and to set things right, Lea leaves Jake. But the way they are reunited is managed without any awkwardness. (iii) The two arcs of Jake's relationships with Lea and Carol [his lover]--growing care of one and the other declining love relationship--are convincingly and sensitively handled.