I was lucky enough to catch a screening of “The Mohel,” a short film written and directed by Charles Wahl at last week’s SXSW Film Festival. The Covid-19 pandemic had forced the festival into a virtual presentation—no small feat for a festival of its sheer size—but undeterred, SXSW 2021 delivered a bevy of great cinema across several genres.
Shorts have always been a favorite of mine. There’s so much emotion and cinematography and narration to fit into a such a small time-space, and they often herald some of the best pictures out there. “The Mohel,” clocking in at just 14 minutes, is about a new Jewish father named James who is short on cash, but in need of performing the Brit Milah ceremony for his new son. There’s tons packed into this little short, and, as the best ones do, it makes you think long after the credits roll.
I recently got the chance to talk to “The Mohel” Director/Writer Charles Wahl and Actor Daniel Maslany from the film about making the movie, their experience at SXSW, and plans for the future.
Hi, and thank you for taking the time for this interview. Can you please introduce yourself for our readers?
DM: Hello! I’m Daniel Maslany, and I play James in “The Mohel.”
CW: Hey, thanks for chatting with us about the film! My name’s Charles Wahl and I am the Writer/Director of “The Mohel,” which is currently premiering at SXSW.
Is this your first SXSW festival, and have you done many other film festivals in the past? How are you finding the experience so far?
DM: This is my first SXSW festival. I’ve just finished watching all of the other Narrative Shorts and I’m so impressed with the range and caliber of films. I feel so honored to be a part of it. Previously I’ve attended a couple of Canadian festivals with other films.
CW: I attended SXSW in 2019 with my previous short film “Little Grey Bubbles,” and it was an unbelievable experience. Getting to sit in the Alamo Drafthouse for a week and watch so many amazing films with likeminded people was so much fun that I didn’t want to leave!
The festival being virtual this time is a different experience but still very exciting. The team at SXSW works very hard to make it an amazing experience for everyone involved and it’s been a lot of fun so far. The audience reach and interaction has been really amazing and I feel like more people are able to participate in the festival because of it.
Charles: Is it strange being a filmmaker and promoting films in the time of Covid, or do you find it offers more opportunities?
CW: Everything feels strange in the time of Covid! On the promotions side of things with everything being virtual, I think there is actually more time to participate in promotional opportunities. Because I don’t have to physically travel from place to place for interviews and they are all done over the phone and via Zoom it makes it easier to speak with people all over the world.
Charles: Can you tell us about your writing process for this film? How did you come up with the concept and what were you trying to say?
CW: The story comes from a wide variety of places. I am a father of two boys and have been through the Brit Milah process twice, and my mother comes from a family of 10 siblings, so there is a galaxy of different events and incidents involving the religion and the politics around it that I have been exposed to throughout my life that have informed the story. I felt a Brit Milah would be the perfect scenario to deal with themes I am very passionate about—the often transactional nature of religion, and the challenges of living with old-world traditions in the modern world. I’m not trying to make a definitive statement with the film, but rather ask questions and encourage discussion around those themes.
The biggest challenge was making sure the film was authentic. Yes, there are some light-hearted and funny moments in the film, but I wanted it all to feel like a genuine slice of life that wasn’t making fun of the event.”writer/director charles wahl
Charles: For those of us that don’t know, can you tell us about the Brit Milah ceremony? In the film it seems circumcision is an accepted reality for new parents. How important is this ceremony to those of the Jewish faith?
CW: The Brit Milah is the circumcision ceremony that all male Jewish babies go through eight days after birth. It is a very important ceremony in the Judaism as it symbolizes a covenant between the child, Abraham, and God. It’s a commitment to the Jewish community. It is a very common ceremony in Judaism.
Daniel: How was it playing ‘James’ here? What do you think is going on in his head at the beginning of the film? How about the end?
DM: I loved playing James. Charles was so specific about the character history and dynamics with other characters, and he created such a warm and inviting atmosphere on-set to make choices and try things out with the rest of the cast. I feel James is really preoccupied with the expectations of his mother and his community at the beginning of the film, but as it progresses his focus shifts more to his wife and his son. And on some level I assume that’s part of what becoming a parent must feel like.
Daniel: I see that you have done mostly TV series and shorts. Do you like the medium of short films? What do you think shorts bring to the table that feature films cannot?
DM: I love working on short films. I love being a part of such a contained process that usually focuses on more intimate and personal kinds of stories.
I noticed many of the short films at SXSW this year explore very specific family dynamics, which feels really appropriate for the form. These stories don’t need to be stretched out longer, and they don’t need other subplots; they’ve been distilled to their essentials, and there’s something really exciting about that.
Charles/Daniel: Were there any challenges in filming “The Mohel?” If so, can you elaborate?
CW: The biggest challenge was making sure the film was authentic. Yes, there are some light-hearted and funny moments in the film, but I wanted it all to feel like a genuine slice of life that wasn’t making fun of the event. Ahead of the shoot Sam Rosenthal (Rabbi Fishel in the film) and I met with a Rabbi to discuss the film. He very graciously offered to help us and provided us the details on how to do the prayers in the ceremony, the propping, and so many other details that make the film so much more rich and textured.
DM: From my perspective, the one moment I remember being the trickiest to get was literally the very last second of the film before the credits roll. It’s such a specific little button to cap off a story that has a lot stillness and simmering tension in it. I think a lot was riding on that moment working, and I remember us trying a bunch of different things with it.
Charles/Daniel: The film seems to have a strong concept of community, and belonging, and some elements of exclusion for not doing things the right way. Do you think “The Mohel” is trying to make a statement about religious judgement and exclusion for not being the perfect example of that religion? If so, what do you hope audiences will take away from this film?
CW: The film is definitely open to interpretation, and one thing I’ve noticed already is that people have different opinions as to what motivated the Rabbi and James’ actions in the film. To me the film opens the door for conversation about what it means to be a part of a tradition, and the challenges involved with living up to the expectations that come with it. It’s not just about Judaism: we can all relate to having having authority figures in our lives who may feel disappointment in us for not living the type of lives they expected.
DM: I feel that the film poses a lot of questions around the themes of religion and tradition and I hope it will lead to some good conversations. I think the best shorts often pose an idea but then leave things open.
I feel that the film poses a lot of questions around the themes of religion and tradition and I hope it will lead to some good conversations. I think the best shorts often pose an idea but then leave things open.”daniel maslany, actor “The Mohel”
Charles: What are your hopes for the film? Any other stops after SXSW planned? Has it seen many awards so far?
CW: SXSW is the World Premiere of “The Mohel,” and my hope is that it continues to have a strong festival run, and that it can then extend its reach through other streaming and broadcast channels.
Charles/Daniel: If you could give any piece of advice to hopeful filmmakers, what would it be?
CW: Don’t stop. If you want to be in the film and TV world you have to make sure to keep going and don’t give up. We all have different roads and timelines in this business. Keep going, and the more you do it, the more you’ll immerse yourself into the community and start to figure things out.
DM: Everyone has their own unique path through this industry. Try to enjoy the moments when you’re working, and also when you’re not. And give yourself permission to feel uninspired sometimes too. The times when you’re not as productive can end up recharging you and informing your choices down the road.
Thank you Charles and Daniel for your time. For those interested, you can watch the teaser trailer for “The Mohel” below…and do get the chance to check out this insightful film if you get the chance.
