Watch When Do We Eat?

When Do We Eat? is a comedy-drama movie from 2005 directed by Salvador Litvak. The movie revolves around a dysfunctional Jewish family gathering for the Passover Seder dinner. Lesley Ann Warren plays the mother, Peggy, while Michael Lerner portrays her husband, Ira, a tough businessman who is mostly absent from family affairs. The movie also features Shiri Appleby, who plays their youngest daughter Nicole, an aspiring actress who has recently turned to Kabbalah.

The story takes place in Los Angeles, California, and focuses on the dysfunctional family dynamics in the midst of the Passover ritual. As the Seder dinner progresses, the family members confront their issues, secrets, and resentments, with the help of a drug named Ecstasy, which was mistakenly added to the Horeset, a traditional Passover dish. The drug unleashes the family's hidden emotions, and they must deal with their conflicts and find a way to reconcile their relationships.

The movie opens with Ira, the patriarch of the family, struggling to prepare for the Passover Seder, which he normally detests. His wife, Peggy, tries to make everything work, but the family's tension is palpable. The couple has three children, Ethan, an unemployed graduate student; Zeke, a successful businessman, and his wife, Grace, who desperately wants a child; and Nicole, an aspiring actress, who seems to be more interested in Kabbalah than her family's Jewish heritage.

As the family gathers for the Seder dinner, tensions rise, and hidden secrets come to light. The tension between the siblings leads to fights and arguments, and their parents, Peggy and Ira, can only sit and watch their offspring argue. However, when Ecstasy is mistakenly added to the Horeset, the family begins to realize they have more in common than they thought.

The drug loosens the family's inhibitions, and they begin to confess their deepest fears, desires, and secrets, leading to cathartic moments of reconciliation. Zeke and Grace finally confront their infertility issues, and Nicole decides to abandon Kabbalah and stay true to her Jewish roots. Ira and his son, Ethan, reconcile their differences, and Peggy finally confronts her husband about their troubled marriage.

The movie's success lies in its portrayal of a dysfunctional modern Jewish family dealing with its issues in the context of tradition. It is a story about bridging the gap between tradition and modernity and finding a balance between two worlds. The filmmakers take an irreverent approach to the traditional Passover rituals, infusing them with a dose of humor and a dash of spirituality.

The movie also features a prominent Jewish cultural theme: the idea of Tikkun Olam, or repairing the world. The dinner guests are encouraged to share a moment of Tikkun Olam, the act of repairing something that is broken in the world. This is portrayed as a metaphor for the repairing of the family. Despite their differences, the family members come together to repair the damage caused by their conflicts and heal their relationships.

The performances of the cast are noteworthy, with Lesley Ann Warren delivering a standout performance as Peggy, a mother who tries to keep her family together despite their differences. Michael Lerner as Ira delivers a strong and nuanced performance as the patriarch of the family. The young and talented Shiri Appleby also delivers a standout performance as Nicole, the youngest daughter, who finds her own path by the end of the movie.

In conclusion, When Do We Eat? is a hilarious comedy-drama that explores the challenges and complexities of modern Jewish families. It is a story of tradition, spirituality, and reconciliation. It is a movie about family and the importance of coming together to heal the wounds of the past and create a brighter future.

When Do We Eat? is a 2006 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 33 minutes. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 5.8 and a MetaScore of 37.