Halifax filmmaker Charles Wahl makes the cut at SXSW Film Festival with The Mohel

Rites of passage have been a cinematic staple for decades. From the christening scene in The Godfather, coinciding with Michael Corleone’s bloody consolidation of power, to the presentation of the newborn cub prince to the strains of The Circle of Life in The Lion King, these scenes can signify periods of monumental transition and the power of tradition in shaping characters’ lives. But sometimes, tradition and day-to-day life don’t synch up so well. It’s a theme Halifax filmmaker Charles Wahl explores in his new short film The Mohel, about a young Jewish couple’s bris for their baby boy, which debuted this week at the virtual version of the SXSW Film Festival. The Mohel – Short Film Teaser from Charles Wahl on Vimeo. In 2020, Austin’s SXSW — which ranks with major U.S. independent film launch sites like Utah’s Sundance and Colorado’s Telluride festivals — was one of the first major arts events forced to cancel due to the swift arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic. Wahl had previously attended in 2019 with his film Little Grey Bubbles and had a fabulous experience. He stayed for six days and immersed himself in the films as well as engaging with other independent filmmakers,…
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