My inbox is always interesting.

The other day, I heard from a former St. Louisan named Vic Weisskopf, a veteran who now lives in Chicago but is wisely wintering down in Phoenix, presumably avoiding whatever Midwest weather we’re dealing with this week. His note began simply enough:

“Did ‘Bad Shabbos’ make it to St. Louis yet?”

It hadn’t, at least not yet. But clearly Vic had seen the comedy—which made a big splash at the Tribeca Film Festival, earning the Audience Award—and was eager to know if we’d get a shot here.

He added: “We saw it here in Phoenix, mostly a Jewish audience, and since I am in the doorman service business in Chicago, quite hilarious!”

This piqued my curiosity, so I followed up, asking Vic a few more questions about why this particular film hit his funny bone. After all, “Bad Shabbos” boasts quite the quirky premise:

Three couples—parents Abby and Benjamin, their son David and fiancée Meg (who’s studying Judaism), David’s sister and her long-term boyfriend, plus an unmarried brother — gather for what should be a traditional Shabbos dinner.  But an unexpected event throws the whole evening off-kilter, launching everyone into comedic chaos. With a cast led by Kyra Sedgwick, David Paymer, Method Man and Milana Vayntrub (yep, the AT&T girl), it sounds like comedic gold.

Vic was gracious enough to play along with my curiosity. He explained he’d missed the initial festival screening in Phoenix but caught it later when his daughter and her family were visiting from Champaign, Ill. “We decided to see ‘a Jewish film’ on Sunday morning,” Vic shared.

When asked about his two favorite funny Jewish moments, Vic quickly responded: First, “the Upper West Side Jewish family’s energetic yet tentative efforts to welcome their son’s prospective Gentile in-laws from Milwaukee to a first-time Shabbos dinner, all while beset with other serious family problems.” Second, Vic laughed recalling, “the doorman’s unexpected appearance at the dinner table.”

So, I was intrigued to know: Why was this film especially funny from the perspective of someone in the doorman service business?

In Vic’s words, it comes down to authenticity. “It highlighted the sometimes way-too-close relationships that occasionally develop between high-rise apartment building residents and long-time door staff members. Relationships taken to the extreme can result in… comedy!”

If Vic’s endorsement has piqued your interest, as it did mine, here’s the good news: “Bad Shabbos” is indeed making its way to the Lou. It’s slated to debut as part of the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival, screening at 7 p.m. Tuesday April 1, at the J on Olive Boulevard in Creve Coeur. Tickets run $5 to $16.

No promises about meeting your next favorite doorman there, but laughter definitely sounds guaranteed.

Thanks again, Vic—and keep those emails coming.

Full schedule for the 2025 St. Louis Jewish Film Festival

• Sunday, March 30: Opening Night Double Feature:​

  • “Fiddler on the Moon: Judaism in Space”
    Time: 3:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “Names Not Numbers”
    Time: 3:45 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “One Life”
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket

• Tuesday, April 1:

  • “Matchmaking 2”
    Time: 3:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “Bad Shabbos”
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket

• Thursday, April 3:

  • “Shoshana”
    Time: 3:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “Running on Sand”
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket

Week 2:

• Sunday, April 6:
  • “Fighters”
    Time: 3:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “October 8”
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket

• Monday, April 7:

  • “Midas Man”
    Time: 3:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “Avenue of the Giants”
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket

• Tuesday, April 8:

  • “The Stronghold”
    Time: 3:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket
  • “Irena’s Vow”
    Time: 7:00 PM
    Location: B&B Theatres – Creve Coeur
    Purchase Ticket

For more details and to purchase tickets, visit the St. Louis Jewish Film Festival schedule page.