Sidney Turtlebaum is a bitter sweet comedy that tells the story of Sidney, an eccentric gay Jewish man in his seventies. To punish the world Sidney earns his living as a pickpocket and a conman - his chosen modus operandi is to gatecrash Shiva houses of mourning to steal from the gathered crowd.
Acting
Derek Jacobi turns petty theft into heartbreaking performance art.
Writing
Dialogue that balances Yiddish wit with crushing solitude.
Direction
Shapeero finds warmth in spaces built for grief.
Director
Tristram Shapeero
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Derek Jacobi reportedly learned basic pickpocket techniques for authenticity, though most shots use clever editing.
The film draws from the Jewish tradition of 'shiva calls'—intimate, food-heavy gatherings that create perfect cover for Sidney's intrusions while highlighting his exclusion from genuine community.
GB
US
