Jason Schwartzman plays a cantor in upstate New York who has lost his voice, his wife and maybe even his faith but whose life is changed after reconnecting with his grade-school music teacher, played by Carol Kane, who inspired him to become a cantor, in Nathan Silver’s quirky, witty, yet strangely sweet comedy “Between the Temples.”

After his wife’s sudden death, Ben Gottlieb (Schwartzman) has lost his voice, his enjoyment of life and even, maybe, his faith. Unable to bear living in the house he shared with his late wife, Ben now lives with his doting mother Meira (Caroline Aaron) and her overeager wife Judith Gottlieb (Dolly de Leon) in the basement of their big home. Ben’s rabbi, Rabbi Bruce (Robert Smigel), still keeps his old position as cantor at Temple Sinai open for him. But after a year of mourning, his rabbi, his mother and his stepmother are all ready for Ben to move on and rejoin community life. 

Hoping to help, Rabbi Bruce pushes Ben to resume his position as cantor, arranging for him to sing during Shabbat service, while his stepmother encourages him to begin dating — with dates already waiting just out of sight as soon as he concedes it might be a good idea. But the cantor isn’t ready and can’t handle either. 

Taking refuge in a bar, he has a chance encounter with a quirky older woman, whom the cantor soon recognizes as his grade school vocal teacher Mrs. O’Connor (Kane), the person who inspired him to become a cantor. The two seem to connect immediately, the first ray of light in Ben’s dark world in a long time. 

The retired music teacher turns up the next day at Ben’s temple, where he is teaching his bar/bat mitzvah class, the only thing he has managed to continue doing for the synagogue. Mrs. O’Connor reveals that, despite her Irish married name, her maiden name was Carla Kessler and she’s Jewish. Now that she is a widow, Carla longs to have the bat mitzvah she never had as a girl, explaining she never had one because her parents were communists, making her a “red diaper baby.” Although pleased to reconnect with his childhood music teacher, Ben doesn’t want to take her on as a bat mitzvah student and tells her it is “too late” for her. Angered at being told she’s too old, she persists, and when Rabbi Bruce intervenes, Ben gives in. 

Ben starts coaching Carla for her bat mitzvah one-on-one in his office, instead of with his class of young students. The two begin to share memories of the past, and eventually the lessons move to her nearby home, and Carla also starts to coach Ben in breathing exercises to recover his singing voice. They trade off the role of teacher, and each gives the other support neither gets elsewhere. Ben needs someone to help him, and she becomes his encouraging teacher again, as well as a kind of mother figure and a best friend who truly gets him. 

Meanwhile, Rabbi Bruce wants to introduce Ben to his daughter Gabby, who has recently gone through a broken engagement.

“Between the Temples” debuted at Sundance to strong reviews. Director/co-writer Silver’s films are known as much for their emotion and heart as for their sharp, witty humor. That humor is present here in abundance, but the film also has a sweetness in the scenes between Schwartzman and Kane. Those scenes are the real moments of magic, with a charm and appealing quirk reminiscent of “Harold and Maude.” The film also has good doses of screwball comedy, particularly in the scenes with family, as well as some serious things to say, behind it all. Things may look conventional on the surface, but little is underneath. 

Kane and Schwartzman have wonderful chemistry together as they form an island of simplicity in the churning sea of complexity from both their families. Kane is a delight in this role, giving a winning performance. Schwartzman plays against his usual handsome leading man type in Wes Anderson films, by portraying a man who is a bit gone to seed, with little purpose in life. It is the kind of role we expect from Steve Carell, but Schwartzman pulls it off very well. All the supporting players are wonderful as well, delivering lines with deadpan humor. 

“Between the Temples” is an offbeat comedy about Jewish identity that takes some odd turns but offers a surprising sweetness in the scenes between the two main characters, along with a strange yet somehow satisfying ending. 

“Between the Temples” will open Aug. 23 or 30 at Landmark’s Plaza Frontenac Cinema (TBD as of press time) and Aug. 30 at the Hi-Pointe Theatre.