Praying with Lior (2008)

PRAYING WITH LIOR A boy with Down syndrome prepares for his bar mitzvah with the help of his family and community in this rewarding documentary

In Philadelphia, Lior, a boy with Down syndrome, is getting ready for his bar mitzvah. The moment that his rabbi father says, ''He's not stupid, he's retarded — there's a difference!'' the theme of this bite-size, rewarding documentary comes into focus. It's that the embrace of Lior — by his family, and by the Judaic community around him — completely transforms the way he feels about his mind. The boy has a penetrating spirit and a passion for davening (i.e., praying), and though the film gets a bit repetitive, in its moving climax Lior does more than just have his bar mitzvah — he earns it. B