60
Trachtman’s movie is not technically accomplished--the camerawork is run-of-the-mill, the structure is rambling--but it’s redeemed by the deliciously complex, practically Balzac-ian family at its center.
What are people saying?
What are critics saying?
88
Philadelphia Inquirer by Carrie Rickey
Apart from its intriguing religious implications, the film is also a compelling look at the family, community and congregational pillars that support Lior.
70
New York Magazine (Vulture) by David Edelstein
Praying With Lior engages us on so many levels it transcends its middle-class Jewish milieu.
70
What makes this involving beyond its subject's slightly freakish fascination is helmer Ilana Trachtman's capturing of a complex family dynamic in which Lior isn't the only intriguing personality.
63
New York Daily News by Elizabeth Weitzman
Trachtman's gentle profile does make for touching viewing, but she leaves too many questions unanswered.
63
There's an honest, unfiltered quality to what you see and hear.
70
The New York Times by Jeannette Catsoulis
Patiently and delicately, Ms. Trachtman teases out the tricky dynamics of a family dealing with a disabled child.
63
TV Guide Magazine by Maitland McDonagh
Thoroughly heartfelt. But though Trachtman alludes to the impact that Lior's special needs and local fame has had on his family, she seems uninterested in exploring the larger history of beliefs and traditions concerning mentally challenged people and their closeness to God.
75
Entertainment Weekly by Owen Gleiberman
Though the film gets a bit repetitive, in its moving climax Lior does more than just have his bar mitzvah -- he earns it.
75
Intimate, moving documentary.