Israeli director Erez Tadmor takes ‘Matchmaking 3’ to New York - and reveals its unlikely secret

The Israeli director Erez Tadmor has brought the popular Matchmaking trilogy to the United States with Matchmaking 3, which premiered in New York theaters. The film follows the story of Baruch, a non-traditional matchmaker, as he attempts to secure a groom for Ruth, a pastry chef, and build a life together. The second movie in the series was a massive hit, selling millions of tickets during challenging times, and bringing together both secular and observant audiences for a shared emotional experience.

Tadmor was surprised by the unprecedented success of the first Matchmaking film, as he wondered whether audiences would be interested in a story featuring haredi characters. His collaboration with Hava Divon, a co-creator of the popular national-religious television series Srugim, and Yaki Reisner, a producer/writer from a Litvak ultra-Orthodox family, helped bring the story to life.

Reisner plays Malki's husband, adding depth to the film's exploration of ultra-Orthodox life and the challenges faced by those outside the community.

The New York setting of the film provides a unique backdrop, with the matchmakers Baruch and Malki navigating the bustling streets and attempting to negotiate with a mugging Spider-Man. Tadmor credits the city's atmosphere for providing the film's funniest urban mugging sequence in recent memory. The central conflict revolves around Baruch's attempts to secure a groom for Ruth, a pastry chef who has a brother with Down Syndrome, while also navigating the demands of the American haredi billionaire Michael Gerstel, played by Michael Rapaport.

The film's blend of humor and heartfelt moments highlights the characters' growth and their ability to find love in unexpected places.