93QUEEN

Showings

Scotiabank Theatre 3 Sun, Apr 29, 2018 3:00 PM
TIFF Lightbox 2 Tue, May 1, 2018 8:45 PM
Hart House Theatre Sun, May 6, 2018 8:45 PM
Film Info
Runtime:85
Copyright:2018
Country Listing:USA
Premiere Status:World Premiere
Rating:PG
Festival Info
Festival Year:2018
Language:English
Yiddish
Hebrew
Accessibility:Partial Subtitles
Program Category:World Showcase
Film Subjects:America
Her Story
Jewish Interest
Labour & Working People
Website:http://www.93queen.com
Cast/Crew Info
Director(s):Paula Eiselt
Producer(s):Paula Eiselt
Heidi Reinberg
Executive Producer(s):Sally Jo Fifer
Justine Nagan
Chris White
Marco Williams
Editor(s):Rebecca Laks
Sunita Prasad
Cinematography:Paula Eiselt
Composer:Laura Karpman

Description

The Hasidic neighbourhood of Borough Park, New York City, is home to a chapter of the largest volunteer ambulance corps in the world: the Hatzolah. The organization steadfastly bans women from joining its ranks—but this can be disconcerting for female patients who have never been in intimate situations with men other than their husbands or immediate family. Surrounded by a group of tenacious women, Rachel "Ruchie" Freier, a no-nonsense Hasidic lawyer and mother of six, is ready to break her community's glass ceiling by creating the first all-female EMT service in the city. Her efforts to provide women with dignified medical care are met with hostility and resistance, including online shaming and accusations of radical feminism. With unprecedented access to this highly secluded community, and a non-judgmental perspective on their strict lifestyle, 93QUEEN shatters stereotypes and teaches an important lesson: It's from within that conservative societies can change. Charlotte Selb

Additional Information

NOW - 4 Stars

In the Seats - 3.5 Stars, "Captures the constant heartbreak of trailblazing women and despite all of that, their drive is still strong."

NOW - "Ten must-see Hot Docs films focusing on women's stories"

IDA - "20 IDA-supported Films Screening at Hot Docs"