RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Check out the new RT Community
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Praying with Lior
Praying with Lior

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Praying with Lior (2007)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
74 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:19

Fresh:14

Rotten:5

Average Rating:6.8/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 37 mins

Genre: Education/General Interest

Theatrical Release:Feb 1, 2008 Limited

Synopsis: Diagnosed with Down syndrome, Lior is considered by some a "spiritual genius" and by others a mere nuisance. This inspiring documentary follows the boy's unique story, culminating in his bar mitzvah.

Director: Ilana Trachtman

Director: Ilana Trachtman
Producer: Ilana Trachtman
Composer: Andy Statman
Studio: First Run Features

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Mar 24, 2009

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • Winner of multiple awards and acclaimed by audiences around the world, PRAYING WITH LIOR asks whether someone with Down syndrome can be a "spiritual genius." Many believe Lior is close to God - at least that's what his family and community believe - though he's also a burden, a best friend, an inspiration and an embarrassment, depending on who is asked and when. As this moving and entertaining documentary moves to its climax, Lior must pass through the gateway to manhood - his Bar Mitzvah.
  • Source: First Run Features Home Video
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Praying with Lior

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: New York Magazine | comment Comment
    10/18/08
    David Edelstein
    David Edelstein
    New York Magazine
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    [Director Ilana] Trachtman doesn't downplay the challenges of a family with a Down syndrome child, even one as high-functioning as Lior.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
    07/24/08
    Maureen M. Hart
    Maureen M. Hart
    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    A messy brew, sometimes manipulative, with no real conclusions, as Lior, though highly functional, cannot explain his deep sense of religion and those around him are too supportive to question.

    Full Review Source: Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | comment Comment
    05/01/08
    Michele Kenner
    Michele Kenner
    Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

    This is the latest feel-good documentary to turn a spotlight on a much-misunderstood disorder, and per usual it demands that you unleash your sense of humor and table your pity.

    Full Review Source: Boston Globe | comment Comment
    04/25/08
    Janice Page
    Janice Page
    Boston Globe
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Charming as Lior is, this triumphant little movie leaps from good to great by exploring the Liebling family dynamic.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    03/27/08
    Rachel Beckman
    Rachel Beckman
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Praying with Lior focuses on this precocious, lovable lad, while giving time as well to the special challenges he presents to others.

    Full Review Source: Film Journal International | comment Comment
    02/05/08
    David Noh
    David Noh
    Film Journal International

    Praying With Lior documents the extraordinary life of Lior Liebling, a rabbi’s son with Down syndrome.

    comment Comment
    02/04/08
    Jeannette Catsoulis
    Jeannette Catsoulis
    New York Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Provides a complex, compelling depiction of the intrinsic relationship between love for God and one's kin.

    Full Review Source: Cinematical | comment Comment
    02/03/08
    Nick Schager
    Nick Schager
    Cinematical

    Praying with Lior is a tremendously moving and invigorating film, but Lior's love for davening is minimally responsible.

    Full Review Source: Bangitout.com | comment Comment
    02/02/08
    Jordan Hiller
    Jordan Hiller
    Bangitout.com

    Uninterested in exploring the larger history of beliefs and traditions concerning mentally challenged people and their closeness to God.

    Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
    02/01/08
    Maitland McDonagh
    Maitland McDonagh
    TV Guide's Movie Guide

    Ilana Trachtman's gentle profile does make for touching viewing, but she leaves too many questions unanswered.

    Full Review Source: New York Daily News | comment Comment
    02/01/08
    Elizabeth Weitzman
    Elizabeth Weitzman
    New York Daily News
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Lior is a special boy, but the film remains refreshingly down-to-earth about his abilities and limitations, and in the four-month buildup to his bar mitzvah, it wonders openly about where this rite of passage might take him.

    Full Review Source: AV Club | comment Comment
    01/31/08
    Scott Tobias
    Scott Tobias
    AV Club

    An emotionally rich documentary about the extraordinary Bar Mizvah of a spiritually vibrant 13 year-old boy with Down Syndrome.

    Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
    01/31/08
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
    Spirituality and Practice

    A gentle, tender-hearted portrait of a devout young Jew with Down syndrome, Lior will not be for everyone, ...but its messages of family and love are pretty seductive.

    Full Review Source: Newsday | comment Comment
    01/31/08
    John Anderson
    John Anderson
    Newsday
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    In the Oscars of my mind there exists a category for Cutest Performance, and Lior Liebling just took home the golden statuette.

    Full Review Source: Slant Magazine | comment Comment
    01/31/08
    Rob Humanick
    Rob Humanick
    Slant Magazine

    Lior's big moment is an underdog weeper for the ages; I only wish the 80 minutes that preceded it had been as powerful.

    Full Review Source: Reeler | comment Comment
    01/31/08
    Michelle Orange
    Michelle Orange
    Reeler

    This portrait of mentally challenged Lior Liebling, renowned within his tight-knit Jewish community for his closeness to God, is heartfelt but lacks context.

    Full Review Source: Time Out New York | comment Comment
    01/31/08
    Maitland McDonagh
    Maitland McDonagh
    Time Out New York

    This doc is a hardcore tearjerker.

    Full Review Source: Village Voice | comment Comment
    01/29/08
    Julia Wallace
    Julia Wallace
    Village Voice
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Amid an escalating U.S. trend toward commercial entertainment that earnestly or exploitatively taps religious demographics, Praying With Lior explores a rather extraordinary instance of real-world faith, sans condescension or proselytizing.

    Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
    01/29/08
    Dennis Harvey
    Dennis Harvey
    Variety
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    If you can watch Praying With Lior without shedding a tear, it’s time for an emotional checkup.

    Full Review Source: Boxoffice Magazine | comment Comment
    12/21/07
    John P. McCarthy
    John P. McCarthy
    Boxoffice Magazine
     
     
    1 - 20 (sorted by date)
    Text View
    all

    Latest News for Praying with Lior

    January 31, 2008: Critics Consensus: Over Her Dead Body is DOA, Guess The Eye's & Strange Wilderness' Tomatometer!
    This week at the movies, we've got creepy visions (The Eye, starring Jessica Alba), haunted romances (Over Her Dead Body, starring Paul Rudd and Eva Longoria Parker), woodland... More...

    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    77% 77% The Hangover
    88% 88% Inglourious Basterds
    66% 66% Public Enemies
    24% 24% G-Force
    44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    82% 82% Paranormal Activity
    57% 57% 9
    44% 44% Jennifer's Body
    58% 58% A Perfect Getaway

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    Critics' Best & Worst

    Critics' Best & Worst

    RT's critic friends offer their choices

    Total Recall

    Total Recall

    We list 10 New Year's Eve-themed films!

    2010 Movie Preview

    2010 Movie Preview

    Find next year's top releases!

    Shrek is Back!

    Shrek is Back!

    Celebrate Shrek's return with this trailer!

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Harold Ramis Discusses Filmography, Teases Ghostbusters 3 Source: Heeb Magazine
    10
    • National Film Registry Adds 2009 Selections Source: Hollywood Reporter
    6
    • New Moon Tops Moviefone's 2009 List Source: Hollywood Reporter
    26
    • Star Trek Tops 2009's Most-Pirated Movies List Source: Hollywood Reporter
    19
    • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
    111
    • New Toy Story 3 Clip, Photos Posted Source: Slashfilm
    26
    • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
    14
    • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
    16
    • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
    102
    • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
    1
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar, Sherlock, and Alvin Team Up To Break Records
    355
    • Critics Choose Must-Sees and Worsts of 2009
    170
    • RT Editors Choose Their Favorite Films of 2009!
    116
    • RT's Ten Most Popular Movies of 2009
    49
    • Weekly Ketchup: Peter Jackson's Secret Sci-Fi Project
    37
    • Total Recall: New Year's Eve Movies
    33
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: 9 and Paranormal Activity
    31
    • Friday Harvest: Sherlock Holmes, Toy Story 3, and more!
    10
    • Critics Consensus: The White Ribbon Is Certified Fresh
    10
    • What We're Watching on Blu-ray from 20th Century Fox!
    2
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    72
    • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
    21
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    2
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    12
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    24
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    16
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    24
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    9
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Praying with Lior at Rotten Tomatoes

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    Best Nude Scenes of the Year
    Best Nude Scenes of the Year External Link

    Moviefone lists their top ten nude scenes from film in 2009.

    Hollywood.com's Best of 2009
    Hollywood.com's Best of 2009 External Link

    Thomas Leupp offers us Hollywood.com's take on the best films of the year.

    Best Dozen of the Decade
    Best Dozen of the Decade External Link

    Last week, MSN gave us their top 09 films. Now see what their favorites of the decade are!

    Top 10 Movies of 2009
    Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

    TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

    Top 20 of the Decade
    Top 20 of the Decade External Link

    Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo
    About Us | Advertise | Contact Us | Press | Careers
    IGN | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | Direct2Drive | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Game Sites | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | GIGA.DE | What They Play | Battlefield Heroes
    By continuing past this page, and by your continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. | Support | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! RSS Feeds
    IGN’s enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA.
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.