Miriam is set in 1980s America and follows Miriam (Pearl Scarlett Gold) as she is chosen as the first girl of her orthodox community to have a Bat Mitzvah. Like any young person, Miriam is more interested in following her true passion, skateboarding, but she must overcome multiple obstacles while being told what she should do and what is expected of her because of her gender and her religion.
Pearl Scarlett Gold is introduced to the theatrical world with Miriam, and she doesn’t disappoint. Gold is perfectly cast as Miriam, but it's her acting paired with Levi Alexander’s words that truly make Miriam shine. Miriam goes through a lot, trying to balance her family’s expectations of her as well as her own dreams while she tries to discover her own voice within the world and amongst her family. It’s a beautiful coming-of-age story that has family dynamics that will feel all too familiar.
Joining the cast is Adam (Justin Kirk), the patriarch of the family, who’s concerned that his daughter will be judged for breaking from their traditions (both gender and religious), and his wife Lisa (Amy Davidson) who is supporting her daughter in all of her dreams. Miriam’s brothers Isaac (Connor Esterson) and Elijah (Henry Leith) pose similar obstacles to Miriam as her parents do, with Elijah not fully supporting Miriam while Isaac offers her more of a playful, supporting fraternal dynamic with her. All of the cast bring a true representation of family and all of their complicated dynamics with their in-depth performances that make Miriam a well-crafted, feel-good movie.
Tackling key themes like gender, tradition and the expectation of your family’s religion is no easy feat, especially when you consider the short run time of Miriam but somehow, all of the cast and crew manage to convey an authentic movie about discovering yourself and your voice at such a young age, of course, has a back-drop of a family clashing over the dinner table as the family’s feelings and struggles are all confronted.
Miriam is a poignant story that perfectly explores gender and religious identity. Even with its short runtime, it delves into the complexities of self-discovery while navigating following your own dreams, despite the fear of failure and the reactions of those around you. The cast brings to life an authentic family dynamic, filled with expertly crafted scenes that are a testament to the sharp writing of Levi Alexander and the direction of Josie Andrews.
Final Score- [9/10]
Reviewed by - Leigh Doyle
Publisher at Midgard Times