Sukkah City

Filmmaker Jason Hutt's fascinating documentary centers on a compelling architectural project that marries the old with the new. Author Joshua Foer (Moonwalking with Einstein) organizes a competition in New York City to see who can design and create the most innovative and beautiful sukkah—a small hut that Jews traditionally build and live in for a week during the holiday of Sukkot. Although the basic parameters of a sukkah are widely known (and described in the Bible), much room remains for variations on the theme. Tired of seeing unimaginative versions of the sukkah around the city—made of plywood, tarpaulin, and the like—Foer put together the contest with a lot of help, including a jury of professional architects and critics. Out of a large number of submissions, 12 are chosen to be built and put on public display in Brooklyn. Hutt captures the jury's deliberations, but the bulk of the film follows the 12 design teams as they set about turning their visions into reality. The result is magnificent: a dozen unique representations of a sacred idea, made from materials that are often surprising (shims, wire, netting, an entire log). Along the way, Sukkah City offers stimulating reflections on ideas and arguments within the world of contemporary architecture. DVD extras include additional scenes, and a design gallery. Highly recommended. Aud: C, P, (T. Keogh)