HOLY ROLLERS a film by Kevin Asch, opens in Toronto + Montreal, June 18, 2010
Jesse-Eisenberg, Justin-Bartha, Jason-Fuchs
Video Services Corp
presents
HOLY ROLLERS
A Film by Kevin Asch
Starring Jesse Eisenberg, Justin Bartha and Ari Graynor
Opens In Toronto and Montreal
June 18, 2010
Holy Rollers will also screen as part of Vancouver Jewish Film Festival’s Sunday Bagels and Movies on June 27, 10:00am.
Directed by Kevin Asch
Written by Antonio Macia
Edited by Suzanne Spangler
Cinematography by Ben Kutchins
Produced by Danny Abeckaser, Tory Tunnell, Per Melita, Jen Gatien
“Mr. Eisenberg and particularly Mr. Bartha give appropriately twitchy, live-wire performances, and the film tells its basically bleak story lucidly and with touches of dark humor. “ – New York Times
“one of the year’s top independent films; it’s well worth seeing.” – Leonard Maltin’s Movie Crazy
“funny, deft and sharp” – Slate.com
(Toronto) Observant Hasidic Jews become unlikely drug smugglers in Holy Rollers, an intense drama based on true events in late-’90s New York City.
Working on location in Williamsburg’s Hasidic enclave, first-time director Kevin Asch offers a unique coming-of-age story amplified by the gritty reality of the drug dealing culture. The film is inspired by the exploitation by dealers of poor naïve Hasidic Jews as unwitting “mules” to smuggle ecstasy from Europe into the United States.
Jesse Eisenberg plays frustrated Sam Gold, a young Orthodox Jew chafing against the pressure of his parents to get married and become a Rabbi. Sam’s life takes a detour when his relatively worldly neighbour Yosef (Justin Bartha) boasts of all the money he’s making in the “pharmaceutical” industry.
The fateful introduction propels the disillusioned Hasid into a secular world of hedonistic opportunities that allow him escape from ancient rituals and expectations. But with the money he’s making Sam also acquires the freedom to consider whether this “freedom” is what he really wants. From its culturally immersive opening sequence, Holy Rollers pulls us deep into an insular world of the Orthodox Jewish lifestyle, the only life Sam has known since birth.
Holy Rollers stars Jesse Eisenberg (Zombieland, Adventureland) Justin Bartha (The Hangover, New York, I Love You) Ari Graynor (Youth In Revolt, Whip It) Danny Abeckaser (Made, Alpha Dog) and Tribe Called Quest’s Q-Tip (Cadillac Records, She Hate Me).
Holy Rollers premiered at the Sundance Film Festival 2010 and recently opened theatrically in New York City and Los Angeles.
Holy Rollers is produced by Shaman Productions Inc. with Deer Jen Films, Lookbook Films, Safehouse Pictures and Gulfstream Films.
About Video Services Corp.
Holy Rollers is the latest release from Video Services Corp. which is developing a reputation for bringing quality art house cinema to Canadian audiences. Recent releases include Rob Siegel’s Big Fan and Avi Nesher’s The Secrets.
