Unlike the harrowing Netflix series Unorthodox or gut-wrenching documentary One of Us, Tango Shalom is a sunny portrayal of the Hasidic community. In this film, the insular religious society is not an oppressive institution, but rather a group whose strict rules are quirky and an opportunity for comedic hijinks.
Jos Laniado stars as Moshe Yehuda in an awkwardly loveable performance as a Crown Heights, Brooklyn rabbi who must quickly earn enough money to save his school from shutting down. Moshe is a rare film protagonist: an older, married man of faith. It is a perspective audiences rarely get to see, let alone in such a light-hearted manner.
Moshe becomes fascinated by a tango class that he spies through a window one day; the dancer's lithe bodies and seductive movements transfix him. They smoothly glide through haptic choreography that harshly juxtaposes the conservative values of his religion. He unexpectedly befriends the dance instructor Viviana (Karina Smirnoff, a Dancing on the Stars regular with a shining presence in her fetching smile and soothing voice) and is roped into replacing her dance partner in a contest.
The rabbi is intrigued by the chance to win a hefty cash prize, but he knows that in Hasidism, he is forbidden to touch any other woman besides his wife—a rule that makes the sensual and tactile dance quite a challenge. The devoted rabbi fears going against his faith, and in a humorous sequence, he goes on an odyssey to seek the advice of all religious figures, from Catholic to Muslim to Sikh.
There is a frenzied subplot with Moshe’s family that is more of an opportunity for Laniado (who also writes the film) and brother and co-writer Claudio to have their mother and family friend on-screen as overbearing matriarchs. It is not as intriguing as the main storyline with Moshe and Viviana, an odd couple who have bright chemistry on and off the dance floor. Their story culminates in an exquisite final dance number where they solve the touching problem by keeping a balloon between them. It’s a bit silly, but the actor’s committed performances and the zestful direction make it plausible and quite exciting.
Zizi Bologna's eccentric score seems to perfectly capture the zany singularity of Tango Shalom. The comedy has a warm heart and playful spirit from director Gabriel Bologna (whose late father Joseph Bologna also writes the script and plays Father Anthony). Some scenes could have used a bit of trimming but the family affair behind the scenes likely accounts for the reluctance to eliminate any part of this passion project. Tango Shalom is a truly unique and sprightly comedy that offers a positive portrayal of an often criticized brand of faith.