Ben Schwartzman and Carol Kane star in mostly improv comedy Among the Ferns
Between the Temples, a mostly improvised comedy from director Nathan Silver, follows Ben, a sad cantor played by Jason Schwartzman and Carla (Carol Kane), a retired teacher interested in receiving her Bat Mitzvah. Through their work together, Ben and Carla grow closer and find a sense of healing in their lives as they navigate the constant dysfunction caused by their families and friends.
With 175 credits to her name, Kane has probably played at least one character you love. There's Simka Dahblitz-Gravas, the wife of Andy Kaufman's Latka, in the sitcom Taxi — a role that won her her first and only Golden Globe Award. She was the wife of the miracle Max, Valerie, in The Princess Bride. In Scrooged, she was handy with a toaster as the Ghost of Christmas Present. And in The unbreakable Kimmy Schmidtshe kept laughing like Kimmy's neighbor Lillian Kaustupper.
Kane won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor and was nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the 2025 Independent Spirit Awards for her performance in the film.
What makes this nomination different from past accolades? It's probably the rawness of her performance as Carla in the film, thanks to the production's improvisational style. Instead of leaning into the quirky comedic stylings she's been known for throughout her career, Kane used her authentic voice in Between the Temples, resulting in a resonant, heartfelt performance.
“There wasn't a solid script, so taking a lot of the dialogue would be different,” Kane explained to Golden Derby. “The essence and structure of the scene would be the same, but we could improvise the dialogue as we went along.”
Could an Oscar nomination be next? Possibly.
One thing is certain: Carol Kane is finally getting the flowers she deserves. Read on to find out when to watch Between the Temples.
Read more: 21 Netflix TV Shows That Are Perfect For Your Next Binge
Carol Kane stars as Carla, a retired music teacher who wants to get her Bat Mitzvah in Between the Temples.
When to look between the temples
After a short theatrical run, Between the Temples will premiere on Netflix on Saturday, December 21.
Netflix is the place to stream Between the Temples. The service currently offers subscriptions that cost between $7 and $23 per month in the US. There is an additional $8 membership fee if you are a premium subscriber who wants to share your account with someone outside of your household.