Tahara

About Tahara

Tahara is a riveting coming-of-age movie released in 2020. Set in the backdrop of a synagogue in Rochester, NY, the film focuses on two teenage friends grappling with their sexual identity since the suicide of their former Hebrew school classmate. The events unfold in a single day and force them to confront their feelings for each other.

Making / Production

Directed by Olivia Peace and written by Jess Zeidman, the film was largely shot in their home town of Rochester, NY, in the winter of 2019. The film features an excellent mix of stop-motion animation and live-action sequences to convey the emotional turmoil of the characters.

Actors

• Madeline Grey DeFreece as 'Carrie Lowstein' - DeFreece brings to life the confusion and pain of Carrie feeling attraction towards her best friend while grappling with loss of a former classmate.
• Rachel Sennott as 'Hannah Rosen' - Sennott plays the character with complexities and delivers a grounded performance of Hannah dealing with the feelings for her friend and societal pressures.

Trivia / Interesting Facts

• Tahara premiered on January 26, 2020, at the Slamdance Film Festival.
• This movie marks the directorial debut of Olivia Peace.
• Despite the film set taking place at a Hebrew school, most inter-faith aspects are ignored, focusing primarily on interpersonal relationships.

Quotes

• "It feels so weird, pretending to be sad about someone we barely knew" - Carrie Lowstein
• "We're not gay, okay? We're just - best friends." - Hannah Rosen

Music / Soundtrack

• The score by Ari Balouzian blends smoothly into the narrative, underlining the intense emotions of the characters.
• Lydia Ainsworth's 'Into The Blue' features prominently in the movie, amplifying the emotional journey of the characters.