David Julian Hirsh • and Toni Braxton in Lifetime's Twist of Faith Directed David J. Ifiagids ori Artist Carol Lempert 'Keith Balinowsiti, Parker, and Brian Sage, 'Russ reriMartz and Pete Podolaki Featuring .AndreiN double-helix ear.gmo GO DM Vim cicao eirto 13111rD PoU20 tby figuring CAM M Rosalind REDMIRDEigmaanj photograph gonaaMici discovery? ®23a,V12gaSE32i0 Today! 248. 788.2900 probably the last time I sang in public [before this film]. I was really happy the way my singing turned out in the film. I was singing with one of the greatest R&B singers of all time. "My [maternal] grandparents were Holocaust survivors, and hearing their stories was a huge part of my upbring- ing. They lost all of their family in the war. They survived by escaping [from Poland] and fleeing to a labor camp in Russia, then to a DP camp in Austria and then to South Africa. They man- aged to get into Canada after the war. "[My parents] wanted me to go to a Jewish school when I was young, which was great. We went to Orthodox synagogues. It was a nice, solid Jewish upbringing, which I love. I was a bar mitzvah. In preparing for the film, I drew on everything, including what my grandfather went through, losing his parents and his family, and, with his new family, bringing them to a safe place Horrible loss and its aftermath are a big part of Twist of Faith. Jacob, the can- tor played by Hirsh, is eking out a living in Brooklyn as a chazzan for a small Orthodox shul. He supplements his income by working as a carpenter. His jewels are his beautiful wife and three young children. All four are slain before his eyes in an incident that recalls the recent Newtown, Conn., school shoot- ing. Feeling totally bereft, he boards a southbound bus. After months of wan- dering and sleeping where he can, he chances to end up in small Alabama town, where he falls asleep on the lawn of a black church. The church is next door to the home of Nina (Braxton). Nina's uncle and young son, citing the need to be "good Christians:' allow him to stay the night in the church. Even though Jacob doesn't talk for a long time, the uncle senses Jacob is a good man, and with Nina's eventual approval, he's allowed to stay on at the church as long as he wants. He makes himself useful as the church's carpenter. The film retains credibility because Jacob and Nina have something real to bond about beyond being nice, good- looking, lonely people. That bond is music. Nina's choir is trying to win a statewide contest for the best gospel choir, and they know they need a dyna- mite song. It is believable that Jacob would try to comfort himself by com- posing a tune on the church piano and that Nina would encourage him to write a tune for her choir. Nina, who had a painful divorce, and Jacob help each other heal. But before they act on their attraction, Jacob returns to Brooklyn and tries to resume his old life. His aged mother's advice to Nina, Hirsh readily agrees, is not some- thing one would expect from a tradi- tional Jewish mother and, on some level, it ties things up too neatly. But, Hirsh says, perhaps that are people in the world whose "love is so deep" they put aside traditional values in extraordinary circumstances and tell their children to do what makes them happy. ❑ www.JetTheatre.org JET Performs in the Aaron DeRoy Theatre in the JCC - Corner of Maple & Drake Roads in West Bloomfield " SHUBERT FOUNDATION, Mr*. Sushi Japanese Restaurant DAILY SPECIALS EVERY DAY SPECIAL $7.99 Bento Box & Sushi lunch TUESDAYS We serve Beer, Wine and Sake Chef's Special Rolls & Tempura Rolls 50% off THURSDAYS All-You-Can-Eat Lunch $9.99 Dinner 50% off all Chef's special rolls SATURDAYS r Open 7 Days a week Mon-Sat open at 11 Sunday open at 4 aro jtoi F Your total food bill Not good with any other offer or coupon & daily' specials Expires 3/15/13 33214 W. 14 Mile Hometown & Tempura Rolls 50% off at Farmington Road West Bloomfield MI 48322 Delivery and online ordering wwwwbninja.com 248-737-4188 1794100 Turn your next dinner party into an extraordinary culinary event! A chef with over 15 years of experience, Chef Dave will work with you to create the perfect menu. Hr will do the shopping and then prepark in the comfort of your home. When your guests arrive, he will perform demonstrations, reveal culinary secrets, and serve a meal of memorable proportion. Wonderful references. Also available for catered events. Twist of Faith premieres at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 9, on Lifetime. 248-229-9318 / appareilcatering@gmail.com 1807E. February 7 • 2013 47