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10/18/08
Praying with Lior (2007)
74 %
Tomatometer
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Reviews Counted: 19
Fresh: 14
Rotten:5
Average Rating: 6.8/10
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
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Reviews for Praying with Lior
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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.
07/24/08
Top CriticA 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.
05/01/08
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.
04/25/08
Top CriticCharming as Lior is, this triumphant little movie leaps from good to great by exploring the Liebling family dynamic.
03/27/08
Top CriticPraying with Lior focuses on this precocious, lovable lad, while giving time as well to the special challenges he presents to others.
02/05/08
Praying With Lior documents the extraordinary life of Lior Liebling, a rabbi’s son with Down syndrome.
02/04/08
Top CriticProvides a complex, compelling depiction of the intrinsic relationship between love for God and one's kin.
02/03/08
Praying with Lior is a tremendously moving and invigorating film, but Lior's love for davening is minimally responsible.
02/02/08
Uninterested in exploring the larger history of beliefs and traditions concerning mentally challenged people and their closeness to God.
02/01/08
Ilana Trachtman's gentle profile does make for touching viewing, but she leaves too many questions unanswered.
02/01/08
Top CriticLior 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.
01/31/08
An emotionally rich documentary about the extraordinary Bar Mizvah of a spiritually vibrant 13 year-old boy with Down Syndrome.
01/31/08
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.
01/31/08
Top CriticIn the Oscars of my mind there exists a category for Cutest Performance, and Lior Liebling just took home the golden statuette.
01/31/08
Lior's big moment is an underdog weeper for the ages; I only wish the 80 minutes that preceded it had been as powerful.
01/31/08
This portrait of mentally challenged Lior Liebling, renowned within his tight-knit Jewish community for his closeness to God, is heartfelt but lacks context.
01/31/08
This doc is a hardcore tearjerker.
01/29/08
Top CriticAmid 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.
01/29/08
Top CriticIf you can watch Praying With Lior without shedding a tear, it’s time for an emotional checkup.
12/21/07
1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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