[HANASHIR:12013] Re: Film needed

[jcohen <jcohen...>]

There are several wonderful semi-mainstream movies that have come out in the 
past few years that look with a deep and entertaining eye at the American 
Jewish experience (I only state my opinion about their quality):

Barry Levinson's trio on a Jewish family in Baltimore--especially "Avalon" and 
more recently "Liberty Heights" are exceptional films that explore religion, 
class and race relations in the mid 20th century.  And if I'm not mistaken, 
they're all rated PG except for Tin Men.

"A Walk on the Moon" is likewise a wonderful film exploring Jewish bungalow 
life in the Catskills during the late 1960s--at a time when Woodstock was 
literally right next door.  More adult-themed (it centers around an adulterous 
affair), but really, really good.

"Focus" came out last year, and is based on Arthur Miller's play dealing with 
anti-semitism.  I haven't seen the film, but I've heard great reviews for it.  

Into European films:

Another recent film that I personally loved was "The Governess"--about a 
Sephardic Jewish woman in ninetenth century London who takes a governess job 
with a dour family on the British coastline.  Stars Minnie Driver, and has 
soundtrack by Ofra Haza (z"l).  It's not explicitly about Judaism--but then 
again, perhaps it is implicitly, bvy the subject matter.

"Sunshine" is another great (three-hour-long) film, looking at three 
generations of a Jewish family in Europe (the protagonist of each generation is 
played by Ralph Fiennes)--again, not about the Jewish experience, but rich in 
material for discusion about Jewish actions and choices within a non-Jewish 
society, and the role and meaning of tradition.

Then, for the sort of "out there" crowd (a true choice for an "alternative" 
service ;) ) is "Pi," Darren Aronofsky's low-budget techno-thriller in which a 
Jewish mathematician discovers how to predict randomness, and is thus pursued 
by a Wall Street Firm and a group of Lubavitsch Chassidim, each of which wants 
his secret in order to unravel their own relative understandings of the 
universe.  Gets really metaphysical and philosophical (and whacked out), but I 
found it brilliant, and it may well appeal to the techie and teen set.

There are plenty of others--"Crimes and Misdemeanors," "Enemies:  A Love 
Story," etc.--but I hope thus brings some less well known (and equally 
deserving) films into view.

> It is our custom, at the afternoon break of Yom Kippur from 
> 12:30-4:00 P.M. to show a film and have a discussion.  This is for 
> those who want to stay in shull all day and not go home.
> 
> Films like "A Price Above Rubies" and Yentel have been seen so far 
> and received well.
> 
> We are looking for ideas for another film we can rent from a film 
> rental store or the like.  Any suggestions are appreciated.
> Rabbi  Richard Schachet
> Valley Outreach Synagogue
> <http://www.valleyoutreach.com>www.valleyoutreach.com
> 
> "The past has a vote, not a veto"
> Mordecai Kaplan, z'l
> 
> 
> -- 
> 
> 




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