by jim zians
or 22 years the Jewish Film Festival has been part of the diverse cultural tapestry of San Diego. From Thurs- day, February 9 through Sunday, February 19, it is shown in five the-
aters across San Diego featuring 45 different films, each with multiple showings offering a potpourri of dramas, comedies, documentaries, animation and more, all relevant to our times . This year’s festival, Our Lives Projected, appears to have something for everyone—Jewish or gentile, gay or straight, and more. Who knew there were drag queens in the
Middle East? This year’s festival includes such a film. Mary Lou is a film about a young Israeli boy in search of his beloved mother. Instead of finding his mother, he befriends a performing Israeli drag queen group, “The Holly Wigs.” A comedy, a musi- cal, also pieces of serious drama both bittersweet and beautiful, the film portrays much intensity and conflicts that occur when gay/straight/drag/ military friendships collide. The film gives a unique glimpse of drag culture that is thriving in the heart of the Middle East. Dolphin Boy, a festival favorite, is an Israeli film
about a father’s search for an effective treatment for his son’s mental illness, a unique form of post- traumatic stress disorder. After many failed treat- ments the father tries an experimental therapy proven to be beyond creative—the therapy has his son swimming with dolphins. One can only imagine the emotional catharsis for both the audience and the story’s main characters as this revolutionary treatment proves both efficacious and life changing. Beatles fans will not want to miss the film, Rock
Star, a documentary about the amazing yet controversial life of record producer, song writer Phil Specter. He produced The Beatles’ Acad- emy Award-winning album Let It Be, and he also worked with Ike and Tina Turner, John Lennon, George Harrison and the Ramones. His successful life turned to controversy and tragedy in 2003 after the shooting death of actress Lana Clarkson in his Southern California home. Looking back at the 20th Century, it is often
said that the one child who perhaps changed the world most was Anne Frank. Honoring her memory the festival presents a new documentary of Anne Frank’s father, Otto Frank. Imagine a world today if this diary had never been published. The film Otto Frank, Father of Anne, chronicles the dramatic story of rediscovering his daughter’s
12 RAGE monthly | FEBRUARY 2012
FOR EVERYONE
OUR LIVES PROJECTEDFESTIVAL: SOMETHING
DIEGO JEWISH FILM
SAN
diary following his internment in the concentration camps, and the politics, determination and personal ambivalence that Otto Frank endured as he struggled to get the diary published. Another extraordinary story is Deaf Jam, a film
about deaf children competing in a poetry contest using only sign language in their poetry. Free Men is a film that tells the story of Muslim families in occupied France during World War II who saved the lives of Jews, while risking their own lives. Amnon’s Journey reminds audiences of the
heart-breaking story of lost lives of Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. Yet the film is a twist itself as Israeli master violin-maker Amnon Weinstein crafts beauty from despair by lovingly restoring instru- ments once played by Jews in Holocaust ghettos and concentration camps. This lyrical film features stirring performances by international virtuosos and culminates in the breathtaking “Violins of Hope” concert performed in Jerusalem’s Old City. Musicians and lovers of the violin will also enjoy,
God’s Fiddler: Jascha Heifetz. This festival docu- mentary is the first substantial film biography of the world’s most renowned violinist Jascha Heifetz. Home movies, intimate family photos and interviews with great musicians and former students are set against an extraordinary soundtrack of his musical virtuosity as the audience meets the man behind the artist. Heifetz’s own teacher called his student, “God’s Fiddler.” Fans of The Simpsons will not want to miss Jews
in Toons. Favorite episodes of The Simpsons will be included among these animated films with humorous, pop culture representations of Judaism referenced in American cartoons. This film includes a special program where Emmy Award-winning writer, Mike Reiss (The Simpsons) will be on hand as a guest speaker. Special tickets need to be purchased online in advance for this special program. And then there is a story about Hell’s Kitchen-
raised Jewish boy named Bernie Schwartz who made himself famous as Tony Curtis. This film Tony Curtis: Driven to Stardom San Diego Premiere documents his life story, which started early-on rebelling, over- coming poverty, being uplifted from psychological turmoil and personal challenges and failings. Then he became an American Jewish superstar. These are only ten of the 45 films shown multiple times in five theaters across San Diego County.
For more information and to buy tickets go to:
sdcjc.org/ sdjff or call the Jewish Community Center Box Office 858.362.1348 .
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76