iMORDECAI: A Charming Portrait Of Man You’ve Never Heard Of
Not unlike this year’s biopic Spinning Gold where director Timothy Scott Bogart‘s crafted a panegyric of his late father, producer Neil Bogart, iMordecai is a loving tribute from filmmaker to their subject. Directed by first-timer Marvin Semel, son of Mordecai Semel on whom this is based, tells the story of Mordecai (Judd Hirsch), a Holocaust survivor coming to grips with an aimless retirement, family struggles, and the unexplored traumas of his past.
Beginning simply enough, Marvin (Sean Astin) ventures to his parent’s Miami condo to replace Mordecai’s antiquated flip phone, now held together by duct tape. Instead, the put-upon son finds his dad tearing apart the shower with a jackhammer much to the chagrin of Fela, Mordechai’s wife (Carol Kane), and the fed-up neighbors. Starting off with a comedic plot device as simple as getting a smartphone soon builds to a heartfelt narrative that changes the lives of all involved.
You Think You Know Someone
Once at the phone store, Mordecai makes the acquaintance of a sweet young woman named Nina (Azia Dinea Hale), who teaches classes in digital painting. Once a staunch Luddite, Mordecai takes an interest in what Nina has to contribute, given he is a self-taught painter. Not wholly convinced he can learn the interworkings of his new smartphone, Nina takes Mordecai under her wing, giving him private lessons. This opens Mordecai up to a new world of knowledge he never thought possible.
What makes the film so interesting is the character development of not only Mordecai but the effect his decisions, past and present, have on the people around him. Nina for example volunteers at a local Jewish center, allowing her to learn of the tragedies of the past while coming to terms with her own family’s transgressions during World War II. Marvin worries about his new cigar business which his father has invested heavily in. Not to mention becoming a first-time father to twin girls. And then there’s Fela dealing with her nonsensical jealousy of other women she thinks are trying to woo her husband. An issue that delivers an emotional gut-punch by the third act, played with the bittersweet flare the adorably powerful Carol Kane puts into the role.
This brings us to Judd Hirsch. His gravitas as a dramatic actor blends superbly with his knack for straight-man comedy. There are moments throughout where one might be put off by Mordecai’s flighty, stubbornness only to become enthralled with the open-minded artist emerging from beneath his defensive exterior.
On a personal note, it was exciting to see Hirsch and Kane on screen since their bygone days starring in the sitcom Taxi.
An Animated Life
An unexpected flare in the film is the use of animated sequences used to show Mordecai’s life as a boy during World War II. These scenes balance the emotionally scarring beats with the often comedic live-action—a respectful and affecting means of relaying the horrors of the Holocaust while easing the viewer in and out of the lighthearted plot.
Chaos Imporium Inc, the studio behind the animation, seems to have used a digital art style not far off from what Nina teaches to her students in her digital art demonstrations. Designed with a hint of the artistic style Mordecai Semel displays in his actual paintings, this clever touch doesn’t go unnoticed.
Final Thoughts
iMordecai, for the sum of its parts, plays as a quiet Sunday afternoon watch. This is in no way besmirching the film, mind you. On occasion, a sweet little indie, chock full of likable characters and recognizable faces is exactly what a person needs. In a cinematic landscape boiling over with big-budget noise makers, finding an impactful story capable of evoking a spectrum of emotion is a breath of fresh air. And the credits featuring the real Mordecai Semel are worth sticking around for.
With a well-cast ensemble of fun actors, its deeper-than-expected narrative, along with a thoughtful screenplay, iMortecai is a terrific watch for most age groups. Light-hearted with a peppering of heavy subject matter, the life of Mordecai Semel weaves beautifully with the broad range of characters he encounters by highlighting that need in all of us to find love, peace, and a true sense of self. iMordecai is a definite recommendation for those yearning for an earnest movie-watching experience.
iMordecai was released on February 24th, 2023.
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