Sensitive and deeply complex, Sacred Sperm explores one of the most suppressed and hidden issues of the Orthodox Jewish community: the sin of ‘wasting sperm’. Opening a rare window onto the taboos of sex and masturbation, director Ori Gruder sets out to understand the prohibition of male self-pleasure. Is it possible to honour this Mitzvah (good deed) in today’s society? Gruder, himself an Orthodox Jew, takes us on a personal journey of moral and parental duty as he struggles to clarify the sacred covenant to his young son.
Nominated: Best Short Documentary – Ophir Awards
“An intimate, informative and at times awkward look at the insular religious community and its approach to sexuality.” – Daily Mail
“A rarity – a film made about a normally-taboo subject in the community, by a member of the community and with the blessing of a rabbi.” – Jewish Chronicle
Presented by UK Jewish Film in partnership with University of Manchester Centre for Jewish Studies