Minyan

Eric Steel’s film takes us to 1980s Brooklyn and follows 17-year-old David, the son of Jewish immigrants from the Soviet Union. Samuel Levine portrays the young man with extraordinary talent and sensitivity as he embarks on a journey of self-discovery, discovers his sexuality, and tries to maneuver between the religious environment and the provocative districts of New York’s East Village at a time when the AIDS epidemic was reaching its peak. In his first narrative feature, Steel shows admirable talent, demonstrates precision with the cast (most with theater backgrounds), adds dominant music to enhance the film, and uses the skills of cinematographer Ole Bratt Birkeland to create a very unique and poetic work.