I was very surpised by the quality of Ushpizin, an independent Israeli film produced on a low budget. I admired so many things in this film--the story, the character development, the acting, and the directing.

   The story was simple, but very interesting. Ushpizin (meaning "guests") tells the story of an Orthodox Jewish couple living in Jerusalem whose religious faith is tested when they welcome two escaped prisoners as their guests.

   It's always encouraging to see what is possible in independent filmmaking. You don't need buckets of money. Start with a good scipt and well-developed characters. If you can get a copy of this film on DVD, see it and judge for yourself.