UNIVERSAL CITY, CA – From the Jewish neighborhoods of Brooklyn to the nightclubs of Amsterdam, one young man discovers life outside of his strict religious family in the thrilling true story of an ecstasy pill trafficking ring, HOLY ROLLERS, landing on DVD October 19 from First Independent Pictures and Vivendi Entertainment. In an “excellent” (New York Observer) performance Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, Zombieland) stars as a young Hasid plunged into the dangerous underworld of drugs, parties, and violence in the gripping tale that “ranks as one of the year’s top independent films,” Leonard Maltin, indieWIRE.com.
Ripped from the headlines, the film traces how nearly one million ecstasy pills were imported into the country in the 1990s using orthodox Hasidic Jews as carriers, their strict religious dress making them less likely to have their bags searched in customs. Studying to become a rabbi and waiting to be matched and start a family of his own, Sam Gold (Eisenberg) becomes intrigued when a fellow Hasid from his neighborhood Yosef (Justin Bartha, The Hangover) talks of the easy money he’s been earning delivering “medicine.” Wanting to escape the path that his traditional family has set for him, Sam travels to Amsterdam with Yosef where, on the flight home, he is given a mysterious bag and instructed to “act Jewish” when going through customs. At first reluctant to join the scheme, Sam’s natural business acumen soon impresses his boss and his involvement in the ring pulls him farther away from the righteous future his family hopes for, bringing him closer to the final, perilous end.
An acclaimed debut by writer/director Kevin Asch, Holy Rollers was a nominated for the Grand Jury Prize at the Sundance Film Festival and co-stars Ari Graynor (Nick And Norah’s Infinite Playlist, “Fringe”). The Holy Rollers DVD, loaded with bonus features including cast and filmmaker’s interviews, deleted scenes and director’s commentary, will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.93.
Synopsis
A crime thriller inspired by true events about a drug ring trafficking ecstasy pills to the New York Club scene, Sam Gold, studying to become a Rabbi, reluctantly follows the path his family has chosen for him. A charming neighbor, Yosef, senses Sam’s discontent and propositions him to transport ‘medicine’ for an Israeli dealer, and his girlfriend, Rachel. Sam quickly demonstrates his business skill to his bosses, who instantly take Sam under their wing. Exposed to the exciting and gritty worlds of Manhattan and Amsterdam nightlife, he soon spirals deeper into their lifestyle as his double life begins to rip his family apart. Slowly he comes to realize the façade behind the easy money and parties. Caught between life as a smuggler and the righteous path, he goes on the run, forced to make a fatal decision that could bring the entire operation crashing down.