They’ve given us the sweetest taboo: “Menashe” is a fascinating, poignant and rare glimpse into the world of ultra-Orthodox Jews in Brooklyn, starring members of the Hasidic community. Since much of modern life — including most films — are forbidden in Hasidic culture, and because the film was shot semi-surreptitiously, it’s unclear whether there could be repercussions in this strict, tightly-knit community for those involved in this secular undertaking.
Those who flout the established taboos often face such harsh consequences as losing their jobs, their homes or custody of their children, so the Hasidic actors who appeared in the film courted peril and banishment simply by taking part.