Associate Professor of Hispanic Studies Stephanie Pridgeon recently hosted filmmaker Sandi DuBowski at Bates College for a screening and discussion of his 2024 documentary Sabbath Queen. The event, held on February 4, 2026, gave students the opportunity to engage with DuBowski about his work and its themes.
Pridgeon’s academic focus includes Jewish and Latin American film, often exploring issues related to gender and sexuality. She first encountered DuBowski’s earlier film, Trembling Before G-d, as a college freshman. “That film,” she recalled, “stuck with me all these years.”
Sabbath Queen follows Rabbi Amichai Lau-Lavie over 21 years as he navigates his heritage as the descendant of generations of Orthodox rabbis. The documentary depicts Lau-Lavie’s personal journey as he becomes a drag-queen rebel, a queer parent, and founder of Lab/Shul—a congregation described as artist-driven and inclusive.
The New York Times characterized Sabbath Queen as “a fascinating look at the act of questioning yourself and your family, your surroundings and your decisions.”
Ellie Millard ’26, an environmental studies and Hispanic studies double major who attended the event as part of Pridgeon’s Jewish Latin American film class, said: “The film is incredibly interesting. Because it is the first time that I am seeing anyone from an Orthodox Jewish background coming out and being openly vulnerable about their sexuality and gender expression in media.” Millard credited Pridgeon for “allowing students to experience a diverse range of media.”
Reflecting on the experience, Pridgeon said: “Being able to bring Sabbath Queen to campus and discuss it and Sandi’s other films with my students has been really just a huge privilege for me. It felt like a really beautiful kind of full-circle moment.”
DuBowski’s visit was co-sponsored by several campus organizations including the Office of Equity and Inclusion; departments of Hispanic studies, religious studies; SPARQ; Multifaith Chaplaincy; gender and sexuality studies; humanities division; and interdisciplinary studies division.
