Restoring Tomorrow

Restoring Tomorrow is a heartwarming documentary film from 2016 that takes on poignant themes of faith, community, and historical preservation. Directed by AT&T Award-winning filmmaker Aaron Wolf, who also stars in the movie, the film showcases Wolf's personal journey of rediscovery of faith, cultural identity, and the importance of preserving historical landmarks. The unique feature of this documentary is its intriguing blend of personal narrative and the broader sociocultural discourse it provokes, creating an engaging and layered viewing experience.

The film's narrative principally revolves around the Wilshire Boulevard Temple, a prominent historical landmark located in Los Angeles, California. Inextricably intertwined with the progress and history of the city, the temple has been a significant center for the Jewish community for over a century. However, the film starts with the temple facing dire circumstances - aging, suffering from years of neglect and on the brink of closing down.

Aaron Wolf, the grandson of a late Rabbi Alfred Wolf who made the temple a beacon for Jewish families in Los Angeles, provides a compelling perspective on the crisis. What starts as a simple documentation of the temple's potential demise becomes a profoundly personal journey for Wolf into his roots. The viewers witness his journey from being an ambivalent youngster apathetic about religion to becoming a passionate advocate for preserving his heritage and the temple that embodies this history.

The film depicts the awe-inspiring restoration process undertaken by the community to save the temple, thus symbolically resurrecting this long-standing pillar of Jewish faith in Los Angeles. Viewers are offered a behind-the-scenes peek into this journey, making them privy to the trials, tribulations, and triumphs involved in this ambitious undertaking.

Simultaneously, Restoring Tomorrow also juxtaposes the physical restoration of this beautiful building with Wolf's spiritual restoration. As Wolf immerses himself in this project, he reconnects with his personal faith and his communal roots. Thus, the movie subtly parallels the community's commitment to restore their temple with Wolf's journey of self-discovery and commitment to his Jewish heritage.

Restoring Tomorrow strikes a balance between celebrating the achievement of restoring the Wilshire Boulevard Temple and addressing larger issues. It draws attention to the declining influence of organized religion in modern society and raises important questions about the prospect of cultural continuity, the preservation of historical monuments, and the role of younger generations in maintaining their ancestral heritage. The movie evokes reflection on the meaning and importance of historical, cultural, and familial roots in shaping personal identity and fostering community cohesion.

The film uses its narrative effectively to engage the audience, combining historical insights into the temple and its cultural significance with personal anecdotes from Wolf's journey. His professional background in filmmaking adds a distinct artistic aesthetic to the film, enhancing its visual appeal. Dramatic close-ups, sweeping panoramas of the temple, its beautiful murals, and the painstaking restoration process, showcase Wolf's vision of recapturing the temple's former glory and simultaneous revitalization of his faith.

In this multilayered narrative, the Wilshire Boulevard Temple comes to symbolize the test of time, resilience, and the enduring significance of nurturing communal spaces of faith and tradition. It presents a story of tenacity and unity, of a community rallied to save their place of gathering, their piece of history from vanishing into oblivion.

Wolf's transformation as an individual, his connection with his ancestors, and his increased commitment to his Jewish heritage are pivotal to understanding the subject. His depiction of his personal journey hooks the viewer, rendering the story relatable and inspiring, transcending religious boundaries.

Through Restoring Tomorrow, Aaron Wolf attempts to spark a conversation about the importance of cultural preservation in the face of rapid modernization and social change. It's an intimate exploration of faith, the search for identity, and a closer examination of how the past shapes the future. The film blend elements of personal introspection, spiritual renewal, communal unity, and a powerful statement about the significance of preserving cultural and historical spaces, making it a must-watch for audience members with diverse interests.