‘Menashe,’ a father-son drama from debut director Joshua Z Weinstein, originally from Morristown, New Jersey, opens in New York City on July 28. One of the very few Yiddish-language feature films in 70 years, ‘Menashe’ is set within the New York Chasidic community in Borough Park, Brooklyn. ‘Menashe’ follows a kind but hapless grocery store clerk trying to maintain custody of his son, Rieven, after his wife, Lea, passes away. Since they live in a tradition-bound culture that requires a mother present in every home, Rieven is supposed to be adopted by the boy’s strict, married uncle, but Menashe’s rabbi decides to grant him one week to spend with Rieven prior to Lea’s memorial. Their time together creates father-son bonding and offers Menashe a final chance to prove to his skeptical community that he can be a capable parent.

‘Menashe’ was shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival. It will be playing at the Angelika Film Center, 18 West Houston Street, and the Lincoln Plaza Theater, 1886 Broadway.