The Awakening of Motti Wolkenbruch 2019

A young Jewish Orthodox student, Motti Wolkenbruch, portrayed by Joel Basman, finds himself entangled in a turbulent love affair that pits him against his traditional family values. Caught between fulfilling his mother’s wishes and pursuing his desires, Motti’s life takes a dramatic turn when he falls for Laura, a captivating girl who is not Jewish. While Motti is studying economics at university, his mother, eager for him to settle down, constantly arranges dates in hopes of marrying him off soon.

Upon meeting Laura, Motti is enchanted by her modern ways—she wears blue jeans, enjoys gin and tonics, and, as Motti would say, “has a great ass.” Despite these undeniable feelings, he is acutely aware that Laura, being a ‘shiksa’, would never be accepted by his mother. In a clever ruse, Motti teams up with Michal Süskind—portrayed by Lena Kalisch—to feign a relationship to deter the incessant matchmaking efforts of their respective mothers. The charade ends in chaos when Motti’s mother, filled with glee, crashes her car upon hearing the fake news.

As pressures mount, Motti reaches a breaking point and confesses to his mother that the relationship with Michal was fabricated. This revelation prompts a meeting with the family Rabbi, who advises Motti to travel to Israel in search of a potential wife. In Tel Aviv, he meets Yael and experiences a whirlwind day at the beach, culminating in losing his virginity. However, the joy is short-lived when he returns to Zurich and re-encounters Laura.

Laura invites Motti to a raucous party filled with drinks and dancing, where they share a night of passion. With thoughts of introducing Laura to his family, Motti naively underestimates the backlash he will face. His mother graciously meets Laura but quickly turns cold, dragging them off to synagogue and ultimately disowning Motti for choosing a non-Jewish partner.

Determined to start anew, Motti considers moving in with Laura, but she hesitates, expressing that she’s not ready for such a commitment. In a poignant moment, Motti visits his ailing insurance client, Frau Silberzweig, played by Sunnyi Melles, who reveals through her tarot readings that endings can also signify new beginnings. She assures Motti that with everything he has left behind, he now has the opportunity to explore life freely.

The story culminates in an unresolved tension as Motti receives a call from Laura, leaving viewers to ponder the uncertain fate of their relationship.