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City of Joel poster
IMDb20181h 30mUnited States of America

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

World Premiere

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

Director

Jesse Sweet

Screenplay & Story

Federico Rosenzvit

Original Score & Music

Michael Montes

Film Editing

Amanda Larson, Federico Rosenzvit

Producers

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

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.