The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick

1988
G
1h 37m

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

269

YOUR RATING

The Outside Chance of Maximilian Glick (1988)

Stand-Up Comedy Drama Music

A young Jewish adolescent from an overbearing family likes a Christian girl and is helped by a fun-loving rabbi.A young Jewish adolescent from an overbearing family likes a Christian girl and is helped by a fun-loving rabbi.A young Jewish adolescent from an overbearing family likes a Christian girl and is helped by a fun-loving rabbi.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.9/10

269

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Awards
- 2 wins & 5 nominations

Trivia
Many interior scenes were filmed in an abandoned apartment building at 351 Victor Street in Winnipeg. The building had been condemned by the city earlier in 1987, and had no running water or heat when the film crew starting using it a few months later. Eight indoor sets were constructed with 1960s decor, including Rabbi Teitelman's apartment, and the Glick house. After the film's production was complete, the city finished renovating the building for low cost housing.

Quotes
Rabbi Teitelman: [speaking at a Brotherhood Day gathering] Now, Cohen got a telegram from his son. 'Papa, I'm going to Jerusalem. I'm going to become a Christian.' Oy, vey, he didn't know what to do. He ran to Greenberg, he told him the whole story. Greenberg said, 'It's funny you should mention. I got a telephone call from my son, he said he's going to Jerusalem, he's gonna become a Christian'. What to do? They went to run to the rabbi, they told him the whole sad story. The rabbi said, 'Funny you should mention. My son's going to Jerusalem, he's going to become a Christian, and I'm a rabbi. You can imagine how ashamed I am. What should we do? We have to pray to the Creator, we have to rend our clothes, we have to put ashes on our head, fast for two days.' Two days later, the gates of Heaven opened. The voice of the Creator came down and said, 'My children, what can I do for you?' And each man told him that his son was going to Jerusalem to become a Christian. And then, the voice of the Creator boomed out, 'Funny you should mention... '

Connections
Followed by Max Glick (1990)

Soundtracks
Hoben Mir A Niggundal
Arranged & Performed by Finjan

User reviews6

Review

Featured review

7/10

charming coming-of-age

Maximilian Glick is a kid in 1950's Canadian prairie small town Beausejour, Manitoba. He's a part of a small assimilated Jewish community. His piano teacher puts him together with Celia Brzjinski (Fairuza Balk) to play a four-handed piece in competition. He starts developing feelings for his Christian partner but his family is prejudiced against mixed relationships. The community hires a new rabbi sight unseen after the old one dies. They are surprised when Hassidic Rabbi Teitelman (Saul Rubinek) shows up. Teitelman becomes Maximilian's mentor as he helps him study for his Bar Mitzfah.

It has a nice charming coming-of-age story. The characters are endearing with some terrific actors. It's a small town Jewish kid trying to deal with both religion and love at the same time. The production is strictly old-timey Canadiana. It's not high value but even that has a certain charm. The kid is good and Saul Rubinek is terrific. The lower production value limits its cinematic appeal but the material is first rate.