SEPTEMBER 15 • 2022 | 49

previously hadn’t looked 
through.
While Simchas and Sorrows 
is easy to follow and 
dives into a topic that has 
been seldom covered in 
the Jewish film industry, 
the messaging and plot 
felt forced. Dry humor 
and sarcasm often lend 
themselves well to coming-
of-age films, but in the 
case of this production, 
the approach simply didn’t 
work. On the contrary, it 
needed depth.
Simchas and Sorrows lacked 
substance and, above all, 
it lacked an emotional 
connection to keep viewers 
engaged. The process of 
Agnes learning about 
Judaism felt forced and 
unrealistic, and stereotypes 
felt embellished for the 
sake of building a plot.
The dry comedic 
approach should have 
produced laughs but 
failed to do so. It also 
didn’t help that Adams 
and McDonnell don’t have 
much chemistry, making 

their relationship — and 
the idea of being head-
over-heels for one another 
— unbelievable.
Still, Simchas and Sorrows 
is inspired by Adams’ 
real-life story of marrying 
her husband, Ben, who 
is Jewish, and how she 
learned to balance their 
two religions.
Yet that personal edge 
was missing and, if viewers 
didn’t know better, it 
wouldn’t shine through 
in the film on its own. 
Nonetheless, is focusing 
on the topic of Jewish 
conversion important, 
especially because movies 
often focus on Christian 
conversion? 
Absolutely.
Could it have been 
executed better? Definitely. 
Add some substance, 
chemistry and a deeper 
emotional appeal, and 
Simchas and Sorrows could 
have been a strong film. 

RATING: HHIII

Thomas McDonell and Genevieve Adams in Simchas and Sorrows.

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