By Valerie Milano
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 6/17/25 – In the heartfelt short film Unraveled, writer-director Yale Fried crafts a tender and emotionally resonant portrait of a young boy caught between tradition and self-doubt. Premiering in the Family Films Block at Dances With Films on June 22, Unraveled shines with its blend of cultural specificity and universal coming-of-age anxieties.
The story centers on Simon, a 12-year-old preparing for his Bar Mitzvah, who is haunted by recurring nightmares of dropping the Torah in front of his entire community. What begins as a simple pre-teen fear quickly unravels into something more symbolic: the fear of growing up, of failing, of not being “enough” for the expectations placed on you—by family, by faith, and by yourself.
“I like to joke that Unraveled is a fictional film based on very real fears,” said Freed in our exclusive interview. “As a bar mitzvah boy, I was terrified of dropping the Torah… Later I tutored students and saw that same panic in them.”
Click below to see our exclusive interview:
Fried’s personal insight is what gives Unraveled its authenticity. He doesn’t play into tired bar mitzvah movie tropes. “My own bar mitzvah memories weren’t about an extravagant party but rather two years of intense Torah study and speech-writing—an exhausting double life of school and religious prep,” he explained. The film smartly focuses on the emotional and spiritual pressure, rather than the spectacle, adding dimension and heart.
Visually, the film contrasts Simon’s quiet, everyday moments with surreal, emotionally charged dream sequences that reflect his inner turmoil. These scenes are tastefully stylized and never overplayed, offering just the right amount of cinematic flair without distracting from the emotional core.
The performance of the young actor portraying Simon is particularly affecting—grounded, vulnerable, and remarkably controlled. Freed’s direction pulls out the kinds of subtle expressions that speak volumes. “I wanted audiences, Jewish or not, to feel the universal anxiety of adolescence amplified by that tradition,” he told us. “That fear of not measuring up—of not being enough—cuts across faiths.”
The film’s sound design and score are equally compelling. “Music was one of the first decisions I made,” Fried said. “I knew I wanted 19th-century klezmer-style strings… We edited early cuts to those anxious, plucked violin motifs and clarinet interludes.” The result is a sonic landscape that amplifies Simon’s inner state, from isolation to connection.
At just under 14 minutes, Unraveled is a compact but emotionally rich experience. It doesn’t rush. It doesn’t overreach. It simply tells the truth—gently, but unflinchingly. And as Fried revealed, it’s just the beginning: “I’ve also sketched a feature-length idea about the seven-day shiva period, a love story unfolding during mourning. That’s the project I’m pitching next.”
While the film is steeped in Jewish tradition, its themes are universal. Unraveled speaks to anyone who’s ever faced a defining moment and quietly asked: Am I ready?
You can follow Freed at @yale.fried and watch the trailer at yalefried.com.
Final Verdict: ★★★★☆
A beautiful, emotionally layered short that speaks to anyone who’s ever faced the pressure of becoming who they’re meant to be. Don’t miss it.
