In this acerbic teen comedy, a funeral becomes a battleground between best friends Carrie Lowstein (Madeline Grey DeFreece) and Hannah Rosen (Rachel Sennott, breakout star of SHIVA BABY). When their former Hebrew school classmate commits suicide, the two girls attend her funeral as well as the “Teen Talk-back” session hosted by their synagogue, designed to be an opportunity for them to understand grief through Judaism. Hannah, more interested in impressing her crush Tristan (Daniel Taveras), convinces Carrie to practice kissing with her, unlocking feelings that turn Carrie’s world upside down. Emotions heightened, the scene develops into a biting depiction of unrequited crushes, toxic friendships, and wavering faith, which ComingSoon calls “one of the most original films in the coming-of-age subgenre in a long time.”

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Video Quality

Tahara comes to Blu-Ray in a 1080p presentation that effortlessly translates the film to home entertainment. The movie is presented with an unusual 1:1 aspect ratio that expands out in key moments. While there is a bit more vibrancy in some of the design elements, the film primarily portrays a more muted world that thrives with due accuracy. The transfer handles every space with the appropriate amount of care and complexity. The transfer excavates texture within the clothing, makeup, and set design that adds necessary depth to the picture. Skin tones are detailed and natural throughout the ensemble. Highlights are handled well with no instances of blooming, and the blacks are deep and do not falter with any crush or compression artifacts. Film Movement has done a wonderful job with this release.

Audio Quality

The Blu-Ray disc comes with a deftly executed Dolby TrueHD 5.1 track that captures this story with ease. The sound design is not overly complex, but sounds are positioned faithfully in the mix such as the din of people at the gathering. Dialogue comes through mostly clearly, but some of the audio as captured can be a bit hard to decipher due to whispering and such. Environmental flourishes flesh out the soundscape to make the world feel more three-dimensional. The film uses music to stylized effect as it flows through the room with a confident soundscape. The soundtrack adds some texture to the low end at a few key points. This is a solid release all around. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided.

Special Features

Audio Commentary: Director Olivia Peace, writer Jess Zeidman, cinematographer Tehillah de Castro, editor Troy Lewis, and sound designer Justin Enoch provide an informative commentary track that delivers plenty of engaging production details about the locations, the production design, the performers, and more with occasional detours into narrative.

Trailer (1:47)

Alternate Trailer (2:30)

Booklet: There is a multi-page booklet included featuring an essay by entertainment journalist Sara Clements.

Final Thoughts

Tahara is a nimble film that provides many humorous exchanges while quietly building up some emotional confrontations that hit hard when they come to a head. The claustrophobic aesthetic settles you into the suffocating mental state of these characters who are trying to sort through the complex emotions of youth. The performances feel very lived-in as you get to know these characters amidst a compressed timeline. The film rips you apart at times, but it is well worth going through the waves of emotions. Film Movement has released a Blu-Ray featuring a solid A/V presentation and a great commentary track. Recommended

Tahara is currently available to purchase on Standard Edition Blu-Ray or with a Limited Edition Slipcover exclusively through Vinegar Syndrome/OCN Distribution.

Note: Images presented in this review are not reflective of the image quality of the Blu-Ray.

Disclaimer: Film Movement & OCN Distribution have supplied a copy of this disc free of charge for review purposes. All opinions in this review are the honest reactions of the author.