Sacred Sperm

"An intimate, informative and at times awkward look at the insular religious community and its approach to sexuality.” – The New York Times

“What is it about that little sperm that looks like a tadpole and has everyone so hot and bothered?” asks director, narrator and ultra-Orthodox Jew, Ori Gruder. In ultra-Orthodox Judaism, masturbation is forbidden. “One who spills his seed literally kills his sons,” says one rabbi. So how far are these men willing to go to control their natural urges?

Gruder was grappling with how to talk to his 10-year-old son about sex when he decided to make the film. He takes the camera into his own home, asks his rabbi to bless the making of the film, and explores just how strictly these rules are enforced. It’s a surprising, revealing and occasionally shocking window into a world that is almost never shown. Official selection at the Jerusalem Film Festival.