48 | SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022 

ARTS&LIFE
FILM REVIEW

W

hat lengths 
will people 
go to for 
those they love?
Simchas and Sorrows, 
a new independent 
comedy and drama set 
for theatrical release on 
Sept. 16 in Los Angeles 
and digital release on 
Sept. 20, grapples with 
the age-old question 
through the lens of 
Judaism. No Michigan 
dates have been set yet.
In this 116-minute film 
by New York-based writer, 
director and producer 
Genevieve Adams, a 
struggling atheist actress 
named Agnes will stop 
at nothing to convert to 
Judaism to marry Levi, the 
man she loves. Adams stars 
in the film, playing the lead 
role of Agnes.
As a former Catholic 

school girl, Agnes falls into 
a predicament that forces 
her to make a life-changing 
decision. She finds out she’s 
pregnant — an unexpected 
surprise — and makes 
an attempt to convert to 
Judaism for Levi, played by 
Thomas McDonell.
Her reason: Agnes fears 
she won’t be accepted by 
Levi’s conservative Jewish 

family.
The film follows the ups 
and downs of the process, 
and Agnes’ pregnancy, while 
exploring what it means 
to be (or in Agnes’ case, 
become) Jewish. Together, 
Agnes and Levi face 
antisemitism, sibling rivalry, 
family pressure and the idea 
of interfaith marriage.
Tension only increases 

when Levi’s parents, 
Mortimer (Chip 
Zien) and Maude 
(Julie Halston), begin 
to question Agnes’ 
commitment to Judaism. 
Yet the skepticism was 
set into place long before 
Agnes came along, when 
Levi’s estranged brother 
married a woman who 
refused to convert, 
ultimately making life 
much more difficult for 
Agnes.
Conversion also proves 
especially challenging for 
Agnes, who has spent her 
years questioning religion, 
breaking the rules and 
ultimately rebelling against 
the idea of faith. She meets 
with the progressive Rabbi 
Cohen, who challenges 
Agnes’ atheistic approach, 
and learns about Judaism 
through a viewpoint she 

Film about an atheist 
actress who attempts 
to convert to Judaism 
falls short.

Simchas
Sorrows
and

ASHLEY ZLATOPOLSKY 
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Levi’s family at the 
break-fast meal after 
Yom Kippur.

