
City of Joel
Synopsis
"City of Joel" is documentary - with unprecedented access - to a 1.1 square mile shtetl in the suburbs that is home to 22,000 members of an one of the most insular and orthodox Hasidic sects. We follow the battles they are waging to survive. Just 50 miles north of New York City, the Satmar sect has built Kiryas Joel as a religious haven where they can be fruitful, multiply and follow the 613 rules of the Talmud. But with some of the highest rates of marriage, birth and religious observance in the country, they have been almost too successful. Developers have come up with a plan to double the size of the village to keep up with this growth, but their neighbors fight back because they believe it will harm the environment and tilt the balance of political power.
Release History & Theatrical Window
Moscow Jewish Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Jesse Sweet
- Screenplay & Story
- Federico Rosenzvit
- Original Score
- Michael Montes
- Original Title
- City of Joel
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English
- Runtime
- 1h 30m
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Jesse Sweet
Federico Rosenzvit
Michael Montes
Amanda Larson, Federico Rosenzvit
Federico Rosenzvit, Jesse Sweet, David Gordon Green
Department Leadership Roster
Federico Rosenzvit
Producer
Jesse Sweet
Producer
Amanda Larson
Editor
Federico Rosenzvit
Editor
Federico Rosenzvit
Screenplay
Jesse Sweet
Director
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for City of Joel.
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Frequently Asked Questions About City of Joel
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is City of Joel about?
"City of Joel" is documentary - with unprecedented access - to a 1.1 square mile shtetl in the suburbs that is home to 22,000 members of an one of the most insular and orthodox Hasidic sects. We follow the battles they are waging to survive. Just 50 miles north of New York City, the Satmar sect has built Kiryas Joel as a religious haven where they can be fruitful, multiply and follow the 613 rules of the Talmud. But with some of the highest rates of marriage, birth and religious observance in the country, they have been almost too successful. Developers have come up with a plan to double the size of the village to keep up with this growth, but their neighbors fight back because they believe it will harm the environment and tilt the balance of political power.
Who directed City of Joel?
City of Joel was directed by Jesse Sweet.
Who stars in City of Joel?
The principal cast of City of Joel includes Not specified.
When was City of Joel released and how long is it?
City of Joel was released in 2018 with a total runtime of 1h 30m.
Who composed the musical score for City of Joel?
The original motion picture soundtrack for City of Joel was composed by Michael Montes.

















