Tango Shalom: A Sweet Love Letter to NYC, Cultural Diversity, and Dance (Movie REVIEW)

Today marks the twentieth anniversary of one of the single most tragic days of the 21st century: 9/11, the day terrorists from another country (far, far away) succeeded not only in demolishing iconic architecture from a skyline recognized and admired around the world, but—and far, far more damaging—in causing the senseless deaths of hundreds of innocent people, who were just going about their regular lives that fateful morning, with whatever thoughts and dreams were on their minds. 

It’s a day now indelibly etched into not only the memories of most North Americans, but one which will also forever more be a part of the collective, worldwide consciousness… a day when everyone around the globe saw how truly horrible and sad such hatred and intolerance could really be. 

But this post, well… this post is not about hatred, bigotry, racism (or any other form of negative attitudes or behaviors). No, this post is about a little love letter… to the magnificent city of New York. To its beautifully, wonderfully-diverse population. To love, and faith, and dreams, and self-expression, and… to dance.

Because that’s what the lovely little arthouse film, Tango Shalom, is all about.

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You know those crises of conscience? The moments when everything you’ve been taught, or otherwise learned, come crashing into some other idea—some wild hare, that you want (or really need) to do something very much the opposite of what your “common sense” is telling you? [Just nod your head. We all have ‘em.]

That’s precisely what happens to Moshe Yehuda, a very nice (and very ordinary) Jewish family man, who finds himself in a bit of a pickle. He’s always his life to be a good one: a supportive, lovely wife and a passel of kiddos at home, and a job he finds fulfilling, in the community. The only problem? The money part of things; Moshe’s bills and debts just keep growing, while his income dwindles steadily dwindles away.

But one day—as he turns down what would’ve been a second job (from a friend who clearly was only offering it out of kindness, in the first place)—something… well, interesting happens, involving a possible way out of the whole oy-vey-we’re-so-broke dilemma in which poor, hard-working Moshe finds himself.

There’s a catch, though. [Remember that whole crisis-of-conscience thing? Yeah, here it comes.] Moshe has a realistic chance of entering a competition and being able to win a sizable monetary prize… IF he goes against his religion’s very belief system.

What he wants to do? Dance in an amateur tango competition. What his religion tells him he absolutely, under no circumstances, can do? Touch a woman, who is not his wife. [If you don’t know much about the tango, here’s my short version: it’s a distinctly sensual dance, in which one partner (typically a male) leads the other partner (typically a female) around the floor, in a very dramatic display of courtship and seduction.] In other words? Not AT ALL okay for a devout Jewish man to be doing, because it involves a whole lotta touching, and skimpy outfits, and sexy stuff.

But here’s the rub [and absolutely no pun is intended, so behave yourselves]. Moshe is a pretty decent dancer, and his potential partner, Viviana (played by Dancing With the Stars dancer, Karina Smirnoff) is a dance instructor in the neighborhood, meaning he actually could have a chance at earning a windfall… and so could she (because, of course, she has her own reasons for really wanting to win a nice chunk of change).

After a series of vivid dreams [and no, I won’t detail them; you really need to experience ‘em for yourselves], Moshe eventually hits on a possible solution to his problem: seeking advice from other religious leaders in the neighborhood (since he already knows the answer is a big N-O from his rabbi). Surely some other religion would recognize and understand the purity of his intentions, and allow him to continue with the competition… right?? 

The competition--which, of course, takes place, in some fashion or another--is almost a moot point, in fact; it’s the conversations Moshe has with other religious teachers wherein the real beauty and grace of this movie truly lie.

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Tango Shalom is a small film many years in the making (as is generally the case with most small, indie films, actually). But—and again, as is often the case—the end result is well worth all of the intervening years of struggles to get to that point. 

Of special note are two of its most well-known stars—the fantastic Lainie Kazan and Renée Taylor—in fine, hilarious form, as Jewish mothers/grandmothers. Also memorable are (the late) Joseph Bologna (who co-wrote the script), in a touching performance as Catholic priest Father Anthony, and Jos Laniado, who brings heart and believability to the beleaguered Moshe. 

This is a small, simple film, at its core—something which can be said of many greater, more ambitious movies, as well—and achieves its goals very well (almost like an amateur dancer who really wants to win that big prize). It's a celebration of our differences... and a realization that despite them, we are all far more similar than we are unalike. 

Go see it, if it’s showing anywhere near you. And, if not, please stream it, when it becomes available that route, in late October 2021. It’s a feel-good film that hits on all cylinders, in a wonderfully-unassuming, non-showy way. And after you see it? You’ll almost certainly find yourself a better person, for it. (And, quite possibly, googling tango lessons in your neighborhood.) A win-win, all around, is Tango Shalom.

~GlamKitty

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[Tango Shalom is a film that I’ve personally been around for, seeing a lot of rough cuts during its earlier stages, as I'm good friends with some of its crew. That’s neither here nor there, though; a good film is just that… good, and this little film handily earns that praise.]