Putzel (2012)
Putzel (2012), directed by Jason Chaet, starring Jack Carpenter and Melanie Lynskey.
score
Sometimes you have to cross the street to find true love.
Synopsis
For Walter, a young man endearingly known as "Putzel," life literally doesn't go beyond his neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Walter's dreams of taking over his family's smoked fish emporium are disrupted by the arrival of Sally, who starts a relationship with his about-to-retire and very-married uncle. In order to secure his future, Walter attempts to thwart the budding romance and falls for Sally too - throwing everyone's lives into hilarious chaos.
- Ryan SamulCinematography
- Jason ChaetDirector, Producer, Story
- Federico RosenzvitEditing
- Allegra CohenProducer
About the film
Putzel is a 2012 American romantic dramedy film. Co-written and directed by Jason Chaet in his feature directorial debut, it stars Jack Carpenter, Melanie Lynskey, John Pankow, and Susie Essman. Putzel premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 13, 2012, and was made purchasable through iTunes on April 8, 2014. Its title derives from the Yiddish word for "little fool".
Read the full article (2k characters)
Putzel is a 2012 American romantic dramedy film. Co-written and directed by Jason Chaet in his feature directorial debut, it stars Jack Carpenter, Melanie Lynskey, John Pankow, and Susie Essman. Putzel premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival on October 13, 2012, and was made purchasable through iTunes on April 8, 2014. Its title derives from the Yiddish word for "little fool".
Premise
For Walter Himmelstein, a young man known affectionately as Putzel, life doesn't stretch too far beyond the family business - a bagel and lox store in uptown Manhattan. Walter's dreams of presiding over his uncle Sid's emporium are disrupted by the arrival of Sally, a beguiling dancer who begins an affair with the much older, very-married Sid. In attempting to sabotage their doomed liaison, Walter finds his world thrown chaotically off course and, after a lifetime of teasing from those around him, starts to recognize that he's more than merely a "putzel".
Cast
Jack Carpenter as Walter (as Jack T. Carpenter)
Melanie Lynskey as Sally
Susie Essman as Gilda
John Pankow as Sid
Jarlath Conroy as McGinty
Adrian Martinez as Hector
Steve Park as Song
Armando Riesco as Jake
Allegra Cohen as Willa
Fran Kranz as Salmon Guy
Production
The film was shot on location in New York City's Upper West Side in 2011, with principal photography lasting 18 days.
Release and reception
After debuting at the Woodstock Film Festival in October 2012, Putzel was named Best Picture at the Phoenix Film Festival when it screened there the following April. It was generally well received by critics, with The Washington Post comparing it to the works of Woody Allen, calling it "sharp" and "appealingly offbeat"; while Redefine's Allen Huang praised the "delightful" performances of Jack Carpenter and Melanie Lynskey, noting that their interactions were "deftly believable".
References
External links
Putzel at IMDb
Text from Putzel on Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Putzel
Trivia
- The production budget was US$ 200.000.
- It premiered on October 10, 2012, a Wednesday.
- It runs 1h28 — a typical feature length.
- This film's quiz has 11 questions — enough to play more than once without repeats.
Production
- CountriesUnited States
- LanguagesEnglish
- BudgetUS$ 200,000
- StatusReleased
Cast
-
Jack Carpenter
Walter -
Melanie Lynskey
Sally -
Susie Essman
Gilda -
Jarlath Conroy
McGinty -
Adrian Martinez
Hector -
Fran Kranz
Salmon Guy -
Steve Park
Song -
Armando Riesco
Jake -
John Pankow
Sid -
Allegra Cohen
Willa -
Fred Berman
Tunch -
Ashley Austin Morris
Naomi from Tribe Escorts -
Sondra James
Mrs. Hertzel -
Elizabeth Masucci
Jake's Receptionist - Michael Perilstein Cranky Blind Man
- Christine Rosario Hector's Wife
- Jerry Chaet Shoe Salesman #1
- Burt Sekuler Shoe Salesman #2
- Heather Chaet Mother in Park
- Tessa Chaet Daughter in Park
Quiz about this movie
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Cadete Kelly
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Tags
Crew
- Ryan Samul Cinematography
- Jason Chaet Director
- Federico Rosenzvit Editing
- Allegra Cohen Producer
- Jason Chaet Producer
- Rick A. Moore Producer
- Shahrzad 'Sheri' Davani Producer
- Jonathan Benedict Original music
- Matt Bauder Original music
- Robert Niederpruem Original music
- Jason Chaet Story
- Rick A. Moore Writer
- Rick A. Moore Story
Questions about this film
What is Putzel about?
Putzel: For Walter, a young man endearingly known as "Putzel," life literally doesn't go beyond his neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. Walter's dreams of taking over his family's smoked fish emporium are disrupted by the arrival of Sally, who starts a relationship with his about-to-retire and very-married uncle…
Who directed Putzel?
Putzel was directed by Jason Chaet in 2012.
Who stars in Putzel?
The cast of Putzel includes Jack Carpenter, Melanie Lynskey, Susie Essman, Jarlath Conroy and Adrian Martinez.
How long is Putzel?
Putzel runs for 88 minutes, or 1h28.
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Page updated on 09/11/2026.
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