68
Metascore
12 reviews · Provided by Metacritic.com
- 88Philadelphia InquirerCarrie RickeyPhiladelphia InquirerCarrie RickeyApart from its intriguing religious implications, the film is also a compelling look at the family, community and congregational pillars that support Lior.
- 75The A.V. ClubScott TobiasThe A.V. ClubScott TobiasIntimate, moving documentary.
- 75Entertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanEntertainment WeeklyOwen GleibermanThough the film gets a bit repetitive, in its moving climax Lior does more than just have his bar mitzvah -- he earns it.
- 70VarietyDennis HarveyVarietyDennis HarveyWhat 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.
- 70New York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinNew York Magazine (Vulture)David EdelsteinPraying With Lior engages us on so many levels it transcends its middle-class Jewish milieu.
- 70The New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisThe New York TimesJeannette CatsoulisPatiently and delicately, Ms. Trachtman teases out the tricky dynamics of a family dealing with a disabled child.
- 63New York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanNew York Daily NewsElizabeth WeitzmanTrachtman's gentle profile does make for touching viewing, but she leaves too many questions unanswered.
- 63TV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghTV Guide MagazineMaitland McDonaghThoroughly 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.
- 63Boston GlobeJanice PageBoston GlobeJanice PageThere's an honest, unfiltered quality to what you see and hear.
- 60Village VoiceVillage VoiceTrachtman’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.