Keira Knightley gives voice to Charlotte Salomon, the German-Jewish painter who said she killed her own grandfather after he abused her, in a powerful but flawed biopic
This powerful but flawed animation depicts the brilliant German Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon, creator of a remarkable series of quasi-autobiographical gouaches entitled Life? or Theatre?, painted in the period of her exile in Vichy France from 1941 to 1943, before she was taken to Auschwitz and there murdered at the age of 26; the paintings themselves are now held in Amsterdam’s Jewish Museum.
The movie is part of a vital tradition of representing the Holocaust through powerful animated images, stemming back to Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus. Screenwriters Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis have worked from the narrative suggested by the artwork, but also from a confessional document that remained unpublished until 2015, in which Salomon revealed, among other things, that she murdered her grandfather.
This powerful but flawed animation depicts the brilliant German Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon, creator of a remarkable series of quasi-autobiographical gouaches entitled Life? or Theatre?, painted in the period of her exile in Vichy France from 1941 to 1943, before she was taken to Auschwitz and there murdered at the age of 26; the paintings themselves are now held in Amsterdam’s Jewish Museum.
The movie is part of a vital tradition of representing the Holocaust through powerful animated images, stemming back to Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus. Screenwriters Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis have worked from the narrative suggested by the artwork, but also from a confessional document that remained unpublished until 2015, in which Salomon revealed, among other things, that she murdered her grandfather.
- 12/7/2022
- by Peter Bradshaw
- The Guardian - Film News
Keira Knightley-voiced animated biopic “Charlotte” has been picked up for distribution in U.K. and Ireland by Parkland Entertainment.
The feature, from Good Deed Entertainment, the studio behind “Loving Vincent,” tells the story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 26. Knightley voices Salomon in the English-language version while Marion Cotillard voices the artist in the French-language version.
“Charlotte” also features one of the last performances from “Peaky Blinders” star Helen McRory, who died of cancer in 2021.
“Charlotte” is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana and includes the voices of Jim Broadbent (“Paddington 2”), Brenda Blethyn (“Pride and Prejudice”), Sam Claflin (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Eddie Marsan (“Ridley Road”), Sophie Okonedo (“Death on the Nile”) and Mark Strong (“1917”).
Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis wrote the screenplay.
The film is produced by Julia Rosenberg as well as Jerome Dopffer,...
The feature, from Good Deed Entertainment, the studio behind “Loving Vincent,” tells the story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 26. Knightley voices Salomon in the English-language version while Marion Cotillard voices the artist in the French-language version.
“Charlotte” also features one of the last performances from “Peaky Blinders” star Helen McRory, who died of cancer in 2021.
“Charlotte” is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana and includes the voices of Jim Broadbent (“Paddington 2”), Brenda Blethyn (“Pride and Prejudice”), Sam Claflin (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Eddie Marsan (“Ridley Road”), Sophie Okonedo (“Death on the Nile”) and Mark Strong (“1917”).
Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis wrote the screenplay.
The film is produced by Julia Rosenberg as well as Jerome Dopffer,...
- 5/20/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Charlotte Review — Charlotte (2021) Film Review, a movie directed by Tahir Rana and Eric Warin, written by Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis and starring Keira Knightley, Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, Helen McCrory, Sophie Okonedo, Mark Strong, Pippa Bennett-Warner, Raoul Bhaneja, Julian Richings, Jean-Michel Le Gal, Scott McCord [...]
Continue reading: Film Review: Charlotte (2021): Animated Film Tells a Harrowing, Deeply Moving Tale...
Continue reading: Film Review: Charlotte (2021): Animated Film Tells a Harrowing, Deeply Moving Tale...
- 4/29/2022
- by Thomas Duffy
- Film-Book
In a better world, the animated feature “Charlotte,” about a young and prolific Jewish painter who was murdered in the Holocaust, wouldn’t seem so uncomfortably immediate and timely in the 21st century.
But here are, with hateful rhetoric on the rise in political discourse and marginalized groups being once again demonized and legislated against. Tahir Rana and Éric Warin’s sensitive biopic about Charlotte Salomon reminds us of the many disturbing parallels in Germany during the decade before World War II.
While “Charlotte” is hardly the first film to tackle that tragic era, it nevertheless offers a sobering and effective drama.
Charlotte Salomon, voiced by Keira Knightley, is a young girl coming of age between the wars, with a flair for painting that leads her into one of the finest German art schools. Her talent, and her father’s war record, make her an exception to the school’s rule against accepting Jewish students,...
But here are, with hateful rhetoric on the rise in political discourse and marginalized groups being once again demonized and legislated against. Tahir Rana and Éric Warin’s sensitive biopic about Charlotte Salomon reminds us of the many disturbing parallels in Germany during the decade before World War II.
While “Charlotte” is hardly the first film to tackle that tragic era, it nevertheless offers a sobering and effective drama.
Charlotte Salomon, voiced by Keira Knightley, is a young girl coming of age between the wars, with a flair for painting that leads her into one of the finest German art schools. Her talent, and her father’s war record, make her an exception to the school’s rule against accepting Jewish students,...
- 4/21/2022
- by William Bibbiani
- The Wrap
Charlotte producer Julia Rosenberg on executive producer Keira Knightley as the voice of Charlotte Salomon: “The screenplay itself was wonderful and I think that’s why Keira came onboard.” Photo: Anne-Katrin Titze
Producer Julia Rosenberg has assembled a formidable team and cast for the animation feature film Charlotte, directed by Tahir Rana and Éric Warin, with Keira Knightley as the voice of Charlotte Salomon. Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent voice Charlotte’s grandparents, Eddie Marsan her father, Helen McCrory her stepmother, Sophie Okonedo her patron Ottilie Moore, and Pippa Bennett-Warner her friend Barbara. Mark Strong is Alfred Wolfsohn and Sam Claflin Alexander Nagler. In the French version Julia has Marion Cotillard (also an executive producer) as Charlotte and Romain Duris as Alfred Wolfsohn.
Julia Rosenberg with Anne-Katrin Titze on screenwriter David Bezmozgis: “He has been nominated for the Giller Prize in Canada three times, one of the few novelists who has.
Producer Julia Rosenberg has assembled a formidable team and cast for the animation feature film Charlotte, directed by Tahir Rana and Éric Warin, with Keira Knightley as the voice of Charlotte Salomon. Brenda Blethyn and Jim Broadbent voice Charlotte’s grandparents, Eddie Marsan her father, Helen McCrory her stepmother, Sophie Okonedo her patron Ottilie Moore, and Pippa Bennett-Warner her friend Barbara. Mark Strong is Alfred Wolfsohn and Sam Claflin Alexander Nagler. In the French version Julia has Marion Cotillard (also an executive producer) as Charlotte and Romain Duris as Alfred Wolfsohn.
Julia Rosenberg with Anne-Katrin Titze on screenwriter David Bezmozgis: “He has been nominated for the Giller Prize in Canada three times, one of the few novelists who has.
- 4/16/2022
- by Anne-Katrin Titze
- eyeforfilm.co.uk
Keira Knightley-voiced animated biopic “Charlotte” has an official trailer.
The feature, from Good Deed Entertainment, the studio behind “Loving Vincent,” tells the story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 26.
“Charlotte” is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana and features the voices of Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Eddie Marsan (“Ridley Road”), Sophie Okonedo (“Death on the Nile”) and Mark Strong (“1917”).
It also features one of the last performances from “Peaky Blinders” star Helen McRory, who died of cancer in 2021.
A French version of the film stars Marion Cotillard (“Inception”) as Charlotte.
“I believe this film is going to connect with young creative women,” producer Julia Rosenberg told Variety. “It’s a war story, it’s a refugee story, but it’s really a biopic of an artist who’s been overlooked. She invented the graphic memoir,...
The feature, from Good Deed Entertainment, the studio behind “Loving Vincent,” tells the story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who was murdered in Auschwitz at the age of 26.
“Charlotte” is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana and features the voices of Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”), Eddie Marsan (“Ridley Road”), Sophie Okonedo (“Death on the Nile”) and Mark Strong (“1917”).
It also features one of the last performances from “Peaky Blinders” star Helen McRory, who died of cancer in 2021.
A French version of the film stars Marion Cotillard (“Inception”) as Charlotte.
“I believe this film is going to connect with young creative women,” producer Julia Rosenberg told Variety. “It’s a war story, it’s a refugee story, but it’s really a biopic of an artist who’s been overlooked. She invented the graphic memoir,...
- 3/21/2022
- by K.J. Yossman
- Variety Film + TV
Good Deed Entertainment has taken US distribution rights to the animated drama Charlotte inspired by the autobiographical painting series “Life? or Theatre?” by Charlotte Salomon.
An April 22, 2022 release date has been set.
The pic features the voices of 2x Oscar nominee Keira Knightley, Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn, Oscar winner Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan, the late Helen McCrory, Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo, and Mark Strong. Additionally, the French version of the film will feature the voice of Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard. Directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, Charlotte follows Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and defies incredible odds to create a timeless masterpiece. Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis wrote the screenplay.
Kristin Harris, EVP of Distribution & Operations for Good Deed Entertainment, said, “Charlotte is both an incredibly inspiring story as well as a beautifully...
An April 22, 2022 release date has been set.
The pic features the voices of 2x Oscar nominee Keira Knightley, Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn, Oscar winner Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Eddie Marsan, the late Helen McCrory, Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo, and Mark Strong. Additionally, the French version of the film will feature the voice of Academy Award winner Marion Cotillard. Directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, Charlotte follows Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and defies incredible odds to create a timeless masterpiece. Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis wrote the screenplay.
Kristin Harris, EVP of Distribution & Operations for Good Deed Entertainment, said, “Charlotte is both an incredibly inspiring story as well as a beautifully...
- 12/15/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Although primarily known as a documentary filmmaker, director Eric Steel makes his narrative feature debut with Minyan, a faithful yet surprising adaptation of a coming-of-age short story by David Bezmozgis. Set in the Russian Jewish community of Brighton Beach, Brooklyn in the 1980s, Minyan tells the story of David (Samuel H. Levine) who, while helping his grandfather (Ron Rifkin) transition into a retirement home, befriends two closeted gay men. As David begins to identify and expand on his own desires, his sense of self begins […]
The post Brighton Beach and the East Village in the ’80s: Eric Steel on Minyan first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
The post Brighton Beach and the East Village in the ’80s: Eric Steel on Minyan first appeared on Filmmaker Magazine.
- 10/27/2021
- by Erik Luers
- Filmmaker Magazine - Blog
The year is 1986, the setting is New York City, and the AIDS epidemic is running rampant. Our hero David (Samuel H. Levine) is a teenager living in Brighton Beach, going to school while doing his damndest to get his grandfather (the great Ron Rifkin) into a retirement home nearby. The young man has a temper that stems from a budding rebellious streak, the long-gestating product of his strict Russian Jewish upbringing.
Directed by Eric Steel, who co-wrote the script with Daniel Pearle, Minyan is a deeply personal piece of work. Adapted from David Bezmozgis’s short story of the same name, it’s clear Steel is pulling from his own experience in bringing the written word to the big screen. Levine is sufficiently awkward as the lead, manifesting many of David’s growing pains quite literally on camera. This is an unsure soul, whether it be regarding his sexuality, his religion,...
Directed by Eric Steel, who co-wrote the script with Daniel Pearle, Minyan is a deeply personal piece of work. Adapted from David Bezmozgis’s short story of the same name, it’s clear Steel is pulling from his own experience in bringing the written word to the big screen. Levine is sufficiently awkward as the lead, manifesting many of David’s growing pains quite literally on camera. This is an unsure soul, whether it be regarding his sexuality, his religion,...
- 10/19/2021
- by Dan Mecca
- The Film Stage
Toronto International Film Festival: The utilization of hand-drawn animation as preferred medium for artists to assimilate and explicate real-world chaos in recent years has produced gorgeously sensitive visions including Cartoon Saloon’s “The Breadwinner,” and just this year the animated documentary “Flee” and Ari Folman’s tenderly fantastical “Where is Anne Frank.”
Read More: Fall 2021 Movie Preview: 60+ Must-See Films
Realized with few flourishes of imagination but an undaunted resolve for dealing with human tragedy, “Charlotte,” by directors Tahir Rana and Éric Warin and based on a screenplay from writers Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis, joins the growing list of such mature animated projects with underlying social justice concerns.
Continue reading ‘Charlotte’: Animated Holocaust Drama Recounts The Tragic Life Of An Artist [Review] at The Playlist.
Read More: Fall 2021 Movie Preview: 60+ Must-See Films
Realized with few flourishes of imagination but an undaunted resolve for dealing with human tragedy, “Charlotte,” by directors Tahir Rana and Éric Warin and based on a screenplay from writers Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis, joins the growing list of such mature animated projects with underlying social justice concerns.
Continue reading ‘Charlotte’: Animated Holocaust Drama Recounts The Tragic Life Of An Artist [Review] at The Playlist.
- 9/21/2021
- by Carlos Aguilar
- The Playlist
Strand Releasing has unveiled the trailer for Eric Steel’s coming-of-age film “Minyan” which world premiered at the Berlin Film Festival and won a special mention at the Jerusalem fest.
The feature debut will have its North American premiere in New York on Oct. 22., followed by a release in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and across the country. On top of its win at Jerusalem, the movie won the Grand Jury Prize for best U.S. narrative feature at Outfest.
“Minyan” tells the story of David, a young man from Brooklyn coming to terms with his sexual identity amidst the AIDS crisis in the 80’s, as well as his place within the Jewish community. He bonds with older gay couple whom he ends up supporting when one dies and the other is forced with an eviction from his housing project. David eventually creates a “minyan” to help provide protection for...
The feature debut will have its North American premiere in New York on Oct. 22., followed by a release in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago and across the country. On top of its win at Jerusalem, the movie won the Grand Jury Prize for best U.S. narrative feature at Outfest.
“Minyan” tells the story of David, a young man from Brooklyn coming to terms with his sexual identity amidst the AIDS crisis in the 80’s, as well as his place within the Jewish community. He bonds with older gay couple whom he ends up supporting when one dies and the other is forced with an eviction from his housing project. David eventually creates a “minyan” to help provide protection for...
- 9/20/2021
- by Elsa Keslassy
- Variety Film + TV
Similar to co-director Tahir Rana before tackling the project, I too had never heard of Charlotte Salomon before sitting down to watch it. This fact seems weird considering many hold her posthumous masterpiece Life? or Theater?: A Song-play as the first graphic novel. A pedigree like that shouldn’t be swept under the rug—especially not when you delve into her work’s content and begin understanding all she endured as a German Jew during World War II. You would think her name is held in similar esteem as Anne Frank for depicting the Holocaust’s brutality, so perhaps Rana and Éric Warin’s film Charlotte (written by Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis) might help right that wrong if only by shining a light upon her.
Though they could have created a documentary and done more. I get the impulse to bring a painted story to life through animation,...
Though they could have created a documentary and done more. I get the impulse to bring a painted story to life through animation,...
- 9/16/2021
- by Jared Mobarak
- The Film Stage
German-Jewish artist Charlotte Salomon, who was murdered in Auschwitz at age 26, and her autobiographical masterwork “Life? or Theatre?,” which was created in a two-year burst in the early 1940s, are the subjects of “Charlotte,” a unique animated biopic drama that marks a career turning point for Toronto producer Julia Rosenberg.
Rosenberg first encountered “Life? or Theatre?” — which comprises hundreds of gouache paintings, a 32,000-word journey-of-an-artist tale filled with dark family secrets and numerous text overlays and music cues — as a bat mitzvah gift. She soon developed “a very possessive personal relationship” with the book. “It’s the book I would buy and give when I fell in love,” she said.
After a decade racking up producer credits on notable Canadian dramatic and documentary features, Rosenberg decided one morning in 2012 that an animated film should be made of Salomon’s life, and set about harnessing her passion and wide network to make it so.
Rosenberg first encountered “Life? or Theatre?” — which comprises hundreds of gouache paintings, a 32,000-word journey-of-an-artist tale filled with dark family secrets and numerous text overlays and music cues — as a bat mitzvah gift. She soon developed “a very possessive personal relationship” with the book. “It’s the book I would buy and give when I fell in love,” she said.
After a decade racking up producer credits on notable Canadian dramatic and documentary features, Rosenberg decided one morning in 2012 that an animated film should be made of Salomon’s life, and set about harnessing her passion and wide network to make it so.
- 9/13/2021
- by Jennie Punter
- Variety Film + TV
Two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley will lead the voice cast of graphic novel adaptation “Charlotte,” which is set to premiere at the Toronto Film Festival.
Along with Knightley, the “Charlotte” voice cast includes Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, Brenda Blethyn and Sophie Okonedo.
“Charlotte” is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, with the screenplay written by Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis. The French version of “Charlotte” features the voices of Marion Cotillard and Romain Duris. The animated drama is inspired by the autobiographical painting series “Life? Or Theatre?” by Charlotte Salomon.
The Canada-France-Belgium animated drama “Charlotte” follows Charlotte Salomon, a young woman who grows up during World War II and comes out on the other side with her artistry to create a masterpiece.
“All of us at Sierra/Affinity are excited to work with this star-studded cast and present this unique animated film to distributors across the globe,...
Along with Knightley, the “Charlotte” voice cast includes Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, Brenda Blethyn and Sophie Okonedo.
“Charlotte” is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, with the screenplay written by Erik Rutherford and David Bezmozgis. The French version of “Charlotte” features the voices of Marion Cotillard and Romain Duris. The animated drama is inspired by the autobiographical painting series “Life? Or Theatre?” by Charlotte Salomon.
The Canada-France-Belgium animated drama “Charlotte” follows Charlotte Salomon, a young woman who grows up during World War II and comes out on the other side with her artistry to create a masterpiece.
“All of us at Sierra/Affinity are excited to work with this star-studded cast and present this unique animated film to distributors across the globe,...
- 7/21/2021
- by Jennifer Yuma
- Variety Film + TV
Marion Cotillard among voice cast on French version of Second World War drama.
Keira Knightley has joined the voice cast on animation and Toronto selection Charlotte, which Sierra/Affinity has come on board to represent for world sales.
Knightley joins Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, the late Helen McCrory, Sophie Okonedo, and Mark Strong on the Canada-France-Belgium co-production about Charlotte Salomon, a German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and creates a timeless masterpiece.
The French version of the animated drama will feature the voices of Marion Cotillard and Romain Duris.
Keira Knightley has joined the voice cast on animation and Toronto selection Charlotte, which Sierra/Affinity has come on board to represent for world sales.
Knightley joins Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, the late Helen McCrory, Sophie Okonedo, and Mark Strong on the Canada-France-Belgium co-production about Charlotte Salomon, a German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and creates a timeless masterpiece.
The French version of the animated drama will feature the voices of Marion Cotillard and Romain Duris.
- 7/21/2021
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Keira Knightley has joined the voice cast of “Charlotte,” an animated drama film that will premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in September.
Knightley joins a cast that includes Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, Sophie Okonedo, Mark Strong and the late Helen McCrory.
Marion Cotillard has also been announced to lead the voice cast for the French version of the film, alongside Romain Duris.
Eric Warin and Tahir Rana are directing “Charlotte,” and Sierra/Affinity has come on board to handle global sales. Elevation will release the film in Canada. MK2 Mile End is distributing the film in Quebec, The Searchers in Benelux and Diaphana in France.
“Charlotte” is based on the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of WWII and created a series of autobiographical paintings while hiding from the Nazis. The real Salomon...
Knightley joins a cast that includes Brenda Blethyn, Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, Sophie Okonedo, Mark Strong and the late Helen McCrory.
Marion Cotillard has also been announced to lead the voice cast for the French version of the film, alongside Romain Duris.
Eric Warin and Tahir Rana are directing “Charlotte,” and Sierra/Affinity has come on board to handle global sales. Elevation will release the film in Canada. MK2 Mile End is distributing the film in Quebec, The Searchers in Benelux and Diaphana in France.
“Charlotte” is based on the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of WWII and created a series of autobiographical paintings while hiding from the Nazis. The real Salomon...
- 7/21/2021
- by Brian Welk
- The Wrap
Two-time Oscar nominee Keira Knightley joins Oscar nominee Brenda Blethyn, Oscar winner Jim Broadbent, Sam Claflin, Henry Czerny, Eddie Marsan, the late Helen McCrory, Oscar nominee Sophie Okonedo, and Mark Strong as part of the voice cast for the Canada-France-Belgium animated drama feature Charlotte.
The pic, which is making its world premiere at TIFF and is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, depicts the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and defies incredible odds to create a timeless masterpiece. The project is inspired by the autobiographical painting series “Life? or Theatre?” by Charlotte Salomon. The French version of Charlotte will feature the voices of Oscar winner Marion Cotillard and Romain Duris.
Sierra/Affinity is handling global sales. Elevation will distribute the movie in Canada. MK2 Mile End is releasing the film in Quebec, The Searchers in Benelux,...
The pic, which is making its world premiere at TIFF and is directed by Eric Warin and Tahir Rana, depicts the true story of Charlotte Salomon, a young German-Jewish artist who comes of age on the eve of the Second World War and defies incredible odds to create a timeless masterpiece. The project is inspired by the autobiographical painting series “Life? or Theatre?” by Charlotte Salomon. The French version of Charlotte will feature the voices of Oscar winner Marion Cotillard and Romain Duris.
Sierra/Affinity is handling global sales. Elevation will distribute the movie in Canada. MK2 Mile End is releasing the film in Quebec, The Searchers in Benelux,...
- 7/21/2021
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
“Minyan,” an acclaimed tale of sexual and spiritual identity directed by Eric Steel, has sold to Strand Releasing in North America.
The film, starring stage breakout Samuel H. Levine of Broadway and the West End’s “The Inheritance,” played in the official selection at last year’s Berlin International Film Festival and went on to win Outfest’s grand jury prize for U.S. narrative feature.
In Judaism, a minyan refers to the minimum amount of celebrants required for certain religious traditions. Set in 1980s Brighton Beach, the film follows a young Russian Jewish immigrant who is caught up in the tight constraints of his community. He develops a close friendship with his grandfather’s new neighbors — two elderly closeted gay men who open his imagination to the possibilities of love and the realities of loss. In the East Village, he finds a world teeming with the energy of youth,...
The film, starring stage breakout Samuel H. Levine of Broadway and the West End’s “The Inheritance,” played in the official selection at last year’s Berlin International Film Festival and went on to win Outfest’s grand jury prize for U.S. narrative feature.
In Judaism, a minyan refers to the minimum amount of celebrants required for certain religious traditions. Set in 1980s Brighton Beach, the film follows a young Russian Jewish immigrant who is caught up in the tight constraints of his community. He develops a close friendship with his grandfather’s new neighbors — two elderly closeted gay men who open his imagination to the possibilities of love and the realities of loss. In the East Village, he finds a world teeming with the energy of youth,...
- 1/26/2021
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
Best known for the unexpectedly soul-shattering San Francisco suicide doc “The Bridge,” indie filmmaker Eric Steel came out and came of age in 1980s New York at a moment just before AIDS devastated the city’s gay community. Such timing must have been surreal, to assume something so liberating about one’s own identity, only to watch in fear and uncertainty as this fraternity of newfound freedom collapsed around him. One can feel the traces of that experience — nostalgia for old-school, in-person sexual discovery, tinged with survivor’s guilt — lurking in Steel’s narrative debut, “Minyan,” a movie about an outsider among outsiders: a closeted kid adrift in Brighton Beach’s Russian Jewish community circa 1986.
Steel took a long time to make his narrative debut, and he comes to the project in the wake of other adolescent tales depicting the same era and milieu, such as Dito Montiel’s relatively...
Steel took a long time to make his narrative debut, and he comes to the project in the wake of other adolescent tales depicting the same era and milieu, such as Dito Montiel’s relatively...
- 3/28/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
Now in its 26th year, Washington Jewish Film Festival (February 24 – March 6) explores gender, migration, the supernatural, Arab citizens of Israel, artists’ lives, and Lgbtq themes. In addition to the groundbreaking lineup of films, the Festival will host talkbacks and panel discussions with over 50 domestic and international filmmaker guests. The Festival is one of the region’s preeminent showcases for international and independent cinema.
A project of the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center (Dcjcc), the Washington Jewish Film Festival (Wjff) is the largest Jewish cultural event in the greater Washington, D.C. area. This year’s Festival includes 69 films and over 150 screenings at the AFI Silver Theatre, the Avalon Theatre, Bethesda Row Cinema, E Street Cinema, the Jcc of Greater Washington, the National Gallery of Art, West End Cinema, and the Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater at the Dcjcc.
“We are excited to present our most ambitious Festival yet,” said Ilya Tovbis, Director of the Washington Jewish Film Festival. “The Washington Jewish Film Festival is a highlight on our city’s cultural calendar. This has been a banner year for original cinematic visions hitting the screen. It is a genuine pleasure to share this crop of bold, independent, film voices that have been garnering praise at Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and elsewhere, with DC audiences. This year’s Festival simultaneously challenges and expands on our understanding of Jewish identity.”
The lineup includes new and classic films, encompassing a wide range of Jewish perspectives from the United States, Israel, Europe, Asia, and Africa. While the Festival touches a broad set of themes, this year’s lineup offers two programmatic focuses – one on the lives of artists (“Re-framing the Artists”) and the other on Lgbtq individuals (“Rated Lgbtq”). “Reframing the Artist” features an in-depth exploration of artists’ lives, accomplishments, and inspiration. The seven-film “Rated Lgbtq” series explores sexuality, gender, and identity on screen.
The Festival will also engage attendees with off-screen programming including “Story District Presents: God Loves You? True Stories about Faith and Sexuality,” an evening of true stories presented in partnership with Story District, and the 6th Annual Community Education Day on Arab Citizens of Israel. Kicked off by a screening of "Women in Sink," this day features in-depth conversations with Reem Younis, co-founder of Nazareth-based global high-tech company Alpha Omega, and Tziona Koenig-Yair, Israel’s first Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner.
A full Festival schedule can be found at www.wjff.org . Select highlights are included below:
Opening Night: "Baba Joon"
Opening Night features Israel’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award®, "Baba Joon," a tender tale of a generational divide and the immigrant experience. Yitzhak (Navid Negahban of Showtime’s Emmy Award-winning original series “Homeland”) runs the turkey farm his father built after they emigrated from Iran to Israel.
When his son Moti turns 13, Yitzhak teaches him the trade in hopes that he will take over the family business — but Moti’s dreams lie elsewhere. The arrival of an uncle from America further ratchets up the tension and the family’s tight bonds are put to the test. Opening Night will be held at the AFI Silver Theatre on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. The Opening Night Party, with DirectorYuval Delshad, will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza immediately following the screening.
Closing Night : "A Tale of Love and Darkness"
Closing Night centers on Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman in her debut as a director (and screenwriter) in a hauntingly beautiful adaptation of Amos Oz’s best-selling memoir, "A Tale of Love and Darkness." In this dream-like tale, Portman inhabits Fania—Oz’s mother—who brings up her son in Jerusalem during the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel. Dissatisfied with her marriage, and disoriented by the foreign land surrounding her, Fania escapes into elaborate, fanciful stories of make-believe — bringing her adoring, wide-eyed son along. Closing Night will be held at the Dcjcc on Sunday, March 6 at 6:45 p.m. Followed by a Closing Night Reception and the Audience Award Ceremony.
Wjff Visionary Award Presented to Armin Mueller-Stahl
The Wjff’s Annual Visionary Award recognizes creativity and insight in presenting the full diversity of the Jewish experience through moving image. The 2016 honoree is Armin Mueller-Stahl, who will join us for a special extended Q&A and the presentation of the Wjff Visionary Award. The award will be presented alongside a screening of Barry Levinson’s 1990 film "Avalon," an evocative, nostalgic film that celebrates the virtues of family life. “Avalon” begins with Jewish immigrant Sam Krichinsky (portrayed by Armin Mueller-Stahl) arriving in America on July 4th. He settles in Baltimore with his brothers and raises a family. Director Barry Levinson traces various transitions within the Krichinsky family and conveys his appreciation for the anxieties that afflict the suburban middle-class – and multiple generations of immigrants in particular.
Armin Mueller-Stahl is a German actor, painter, writer and musician. He began acting in East Berlin in 1950, winning the Gdr State Prize for his film work. By 1977, however, he was blacklisted by the communist regime due to his persistent activism in protesting government suppression of the arts. After relocating to the West in 1980, he starred in groundbreaking independent European films, such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “Lola” and “Veronika Voss” and Agnieszka Holland’s “Angry Harvest.” He gained major recognition stateside with two radically different characterizations: an aging Nazi war criminal in Costa-Gavras’ “The Music Box” and Jewish grandpa Sam Krischinsky in Barry Levinson’s “Avalon.” He went on to earn an Oscar® nomination for his role in Scott Hicks’ Shine and appeared in such varied work as “Eastern Promises,” “The Game,” “The West Wing,” “The X Files” and “Knight of Cups.”
The Wjff Visionary Award program will take place at the AFI Silver Theatre on Thursday, March 3 at 6:45 p.m.
Spotlight Evening:
Compared to What? The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank
A polarizing, revolutionary, effective and a most-singular figure in American politics, Barney Frank shaped the debate around progressive values and gay rights in the U.S. Congress for over 40 years. A fresh and contemporary political drama with unparalleled access to one of Congress’ first openly gay Representatives and easily one of the most captivating public figures in recent memory.
Born Jewish, and a longtime friend to the Jewish community and supporter of Israel, Frank is refreshingly honest, likeable and passionate – a beacon of statesmanship that politicians and citizens alike, can look to for inspiration.
Screenings will take place on Tuesday, March 1st at the Avalon Theatre at 6:15 p.m. and Wednesday, March 2 at the Dcjcc at 6:15 p.m. Both screenings followed by a discussion with Barney Frank, husband Jim Ready and filmmakers Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler.
Spotlight Evening:
Gary Lucas’ Fleischerei: Music From Max Fleischer Cartoons
Celebrating the release of the titular album—on Silver Spring-based label Cuneiform—legendary guitarist Gary Lucas joins forces with Tony®-nominated singer and actress Sarah Stiles (Q Street,Hand to God) for a loving musical tribute to the swinging, jazzy soundtracks that adorned master animator Max Fleischer’s surreal, wacky and Yiddish-inflected "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons of the 1930’s.
Backed by the cartoons themselves, and the cream of NYC’s jazz performers (Jeff Lederer on reeds, Michael Bates on bass, Rob Garcia on drums and Mingus Big Band’s Joe Fiedler on trombone), Lucas and Stiles have a rare evening in store. Get ready for a swirling melting-pot of jungle-band jazz, Tin Pan Alley torch songs, raucous vaudeville turns, and Dixieland mixed with a pinch of Klezmer.
This event will take place at AFI Silver Theatre on Saturday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m.
Additional Films of Note
The Wjff will present the mid-Atlantic premiere of "Barash." In the film, seventeen-year-old Naama Barash enjoys drugs, alcohol and hanging out with like-minded friends. Her activities are an escape from a strained home life where her parents fight and her rebellious, army-enrolled sister wreaks havoc by dating a Palestinian before going Awol all together. As her parents fret about their older daughter’s disappearance, Naama meets a wild girl in school and discovers the intoxicating rush of first love. “Barash” will be screened three times during the festival, on February 27 at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema, on March 2 at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre and on March 3 at 6:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema.
"Black Jews: The Roots of the Olive Tree" will have its World Premiere at Wjff. The documentary offers a fascinating exploration of African tribes with Jewish roots – in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon. Some claim to be descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes; others believe their ancestors were Jews who immigrated from Judea to Yemen. Far from a dry archaeological account, the film focuses on the modern-day personal and institutional practice of Judaism throughout Africa, as well as of recent African immigrants in Israel. This film will be screened on March 2 at 6:45 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and on March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at E Street Cinema.
The mid-Atlantic premiere of "Demon," from director Marcin Wrona, features a chilling, modern interpretation of the Dybbuk legend. Piotr’s joy at visiting his bride-to-be at her Polish home is quickly upended by his discovery of human bones on the property. Since his future father-in-law plans to gift the newlyweds the land, Piotr at first overlooks this ominous find. The disturbed spirit inhabiting these remains isn’t willing to let him off so easily however. Marcin Wrona’s wickedly sharp and creepy story of possession is set against a bacchanal celebration of blissful union. “Demon” will be screened on February 25th at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema and on March 1 at 9:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.
From Spain, the mid-Atlantic premiere of "Dirty Wolves" is a WWII thriller imbued with notes of magical realism. Director Simón Casal works in the Wolfram (aka tungsten) mines in rural Galicia. A ruthless Nazi brigade, intent on harvesting the rare metal to feed the Third Reich’s war machine, has captured the mines. When Manuela’s sister helps a Jewish prisoner cross the border to Portugal, they are unwittingly forced into a desperate test, which puts their survival squarely at odds with their sense of justice. “Dirty Wolves” will be screened on February 27 at 6:15 p.m. at West End Cinema, on March 1 at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre and on March 2 at 6:45 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.
In "The Hebrew Superhero," directors Saul Betser and Asaf Galay examine how Israelis long shunned comics as something on the cultural fringe – they were deemed childish, trivial and, perhaps most cuttingly, un-Israeli. Shaul Betser and Asaf Galay (“The Muses of Isaac Bashevis Singer”) outline the medium’s origins, tracing its evolution from quirky upstart to an indelible reflection on the various forms of Israeli heroes. Featuring gorgeous animation and interviews with Daniella London Dekel, Etgar Keret and Dudu Geva, Wjff is presenting the mid-Atlantic premiere of this documentary, which will be screened on February 25 at 7:15 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at E Street Cinema.
Simone Veil’s intrepid fight to legalize abortion in France is brilliantly brought to life in "The Law." In 1974, Veil was charged with decriminalizing abortion and easing access to contraceptives. Facing strong opposition from politicians, an enraged public and the Catholic Church, Veil— an Auschwitz survivor—refused to give up. Fighting for justice amidst a swirl of anti-Semitic sentiment, sexism and personal attacks, her perseverance struck at the heart of national bigotry in a rallying cry for a woman’s right to choose. Wjff will present the D.C. premiere of this French film. It will be screened on February 25 at 8:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema, on February 29 at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema and on March 5 at 4:45 p.m. at the Dcjcc.
At 90, Miriam Beerman is a survivor. This groundbreaking artist and Potomac, Maryland resident has overcome personal tragedy to inspire friends, family, peers, patrons and students about how to remain defiant, creative and strong. Miriam has struggled with her artistic demons to create haunting images that evoke the suffering of generations of victims. "Miriam Beerman: Expressing the Chaosis" a memorable profile of an artist who has elevated her empathy for the plight of the world’s cast-offs into powerful portrayals of dignity. The Wjff is hosting the mid-Atlantic premiere of this documentary. Screenings will take place on March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 3 at 6:15 p.m. at the Dcjcc.
Author and director David Bezmozgis brings his film "Natasha" to Wjff for its D.C. premiere. Adapting his prize-winning story collection,Natasha and Other Stories, to screen, Bezmogis delivers a tragic story of young love. Sixteen-year-old Mark Berman, the son of Latvian-Jewish immigrants, wiles away his hours reading Nietzsche, smoking pot and watching porn. His slacker lifestyle is upended when a 14-year-old hurricane, named Natasha, enters the picture. Drawn to her reckless ways and whispers of her promiscuous past, Mark enters an illicit romance with calamitous consequences. Screenings will take place on February 28 at 5:00 p.m. at West End Cinema, March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 5 at 6:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.
If you believe the fastest way to the heart is through the stomach, "In Search of Israeli Cuisine" offers a delectable, eye-popping culinary journey through Israel is your personal valentine. Weaving through bustling markets, restaurants, kitchens and farms, we meet cooks, vintners and cheese makers drawn from the wide gamut of cultures making up Israel today — Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian and Druze. With James Beard award-winning chef Michael Solomonov as your guide, get ready for a cinematic buffet that’s humorous, heady, and of course, delicious! Wjff will be showing the mid-Atlantic premiere of this new documentary. Screenings will take place on February 28 at 5:15 p.m. at E Street Cinema, March 1 at 8:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Dcjcc.
A complete festival schedule can be found online at www.wjff.org...
A project of the Washington D.C. Jewish Community Center (Dcjcc), the Washington Jewish Film Festival (Wjff) is the largest Jewish cultural event in the greater Washington, D.C. area. This year’s Festival includes 69 films and over 150 screenings at the AFI Silver Theatre, the Avalon Theatre, Bethesda Row Cinema, E Street Cinema, the Jcc of Greater Washington, the National Gallery of Art, West End Cinema, and the Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater at the Dcjcc.
“We are excited to present our most ambitious Festival yet,” said Ilya Tovbis, Director of the Washington Jewish Film Festival. “The Washington Jewish Film Festival is a highlight on our city’s cultural calendar. This has been a banner year for original cinematic visions hitting the screen. It is a genuine pleasure to share this crop of bold, independent, film voices that have been garnering praise at Cannes, Berlin, Toronto, and elsewhere, with DC audiences. This year’s Festival simultaneously challenges and expands on our understanding of Jewish identity.”
The lineup includes new and classic films, encompassing a wide range of Jewish perspectives from the United States, Israel, Europe, Asia, and Africa. While the Festival touches a broad set of themes, this year’s lineup offers two programmatic focuses – one on the lives of artists (“Re-framing the Artists”) and the other on Lgbtq individuals (“Rated Lgbtq”). “Reframing the Artist” features an in-depth exploration of artists’ lives, accomplishments, and inspiration. The seven-film “Rated Lgbtq” series explores sexuality, gender, and identity on screen.
The Festival will also engage attendees with off-screen programming including “Story District Presents: God Loves You? True Stories about Faith and Sexuality,” an evening of true stories presented in partnership with Story District, and the 6th Annual Community Education Day on Arab Citizens of Israel. Kicked off by a screening of "Women in Sink," this day features in-depth conversations with Reem Younis, co-founder of Nazareth-based global high-tech company Alpha Omega, and Tziona Koenig-Yair, Israel’s first Equal Employment Opportunity Commissioner.
A full Festival schedule can be found at www.wjff.org . Select highlights are included below:
Opening Night: "Baba Joon"
Opening Night features Israel’s submission for the Best Foreign Language Film Academy Award®, "Baba Joon," a tender tale of a generational divide and the immigrant experience. Yitzhak (Navid Negahban of Showtime’s Emmy Award-winning original series “Homeland”) runs the turkey farm his father built after they emigrated from Iran to Israel.
When his son Moti turns 13, Yitzhak teaches him the trade in hopes that he will take over the family business — but Moti’s dreams lie elsewhere. The arrival of an uncle from America further ratchets up the tension and the family’s tight bonds are put to the test. Opening Night will be held at the AFI Silver Theatre on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30 p.m. The Opening Night Party, with DirectorYuval Delshad, will be held at the Silver Spring Civic Building at Veterans Plaza immediately following the screening.
Closing Night : "A Tale of Love and Darkness"
Closing Night centers on Academy Award®-winning actress Natalie Portman in her debut as a director (and screenwriter) in a hauntingly beautiful adaptation of Amos Oz’s best-selling memoir, "A Tale of Love and Darkness." In this dream-like tale, Portman inhabits Fania—Oz’s mother—who brings up her son in Jerusalem during the end of the British Mandate for Palestine and the early years of the State of Israel. Dissatisfied with her marriage, and disoriented by the foreign land surrounding her, Fania escapes into elaborate, fanciful stories of make-believe — bringing her adoring, wide-eyed son along. Closing Night will be held at the Dcjcc on Sunday, March 6 at 6:45 p.m. Followed by a Closing Night Reception and the Audience Award Ceremony.
Wjff Visionary Award Presented to Armin Mueller-Stahl
The Wjff’s Annual Visionary Award recognizes creativity and insight in presenting the full diversity of the Jewish experience through moving image. The 2016 honoree is Armin Mueller-Stahl, who will join us for a special extended Q&A and the presentation of the Wjff Visionary Award. The award will be presented alongside a screening of Barry Levinson’s 1990 film "Avalon," an evocative, nostalgic film that celebrates the virtues of family life. “Avalon” begins with Jewish immigrant Sam Krichinsky (portrayed by Armin Mueller-Stahl) arriving in America on July 4th. He settles in Baltimore with his brothers and raises a family. Director Barry Levinson traces various transitions within the Krichinsky family and conveys his appreciation for the anxieties that afflict the suburban middle-class – and multiple generations of immigrants in particular.
Armin Mueller-Stahl is a German actor, painter, writer and musician. He began acting in East Berlin in 1950, winning the Gdr State Prize for his film work. By 1977, however, he was blacklisted by the communist regime due to his persistent activism in protesting government suppression of the arts. After relocating to the West in 1980, he starred in groundbreaking independent European films, such as Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s “Lola” and “Veronika Voss” and Agnieszka Holland’s “Angry Harvest.” He gained major recognition stateside with two radically different characterizations: an aging Nazi war criminal in Costa-Gavras’ “The Music Box” and Jewish grandpa Sam Krischinsky in Barry Levinson’s “Avalon.” He went on to earn an Oscar® nomination for his role in Scott Hicks’ Shine and appeared in such varied work as “Eastern Promises,” “The Game,” “The West Wing,” “The X Files” and “Knight of Cups.”
The Wjff Visionary Award program will take place at the AFI Silver Theatre on Thursday, March 3 at 6:45 p.m.
Spotlight Evening:
Compared to What? The Improbable Journey of Barney Frank
A polarizing, revolutionary, effective and a most-singular figure in American politics, Barney Frank shaped the debate around progressive values and gay rights in the U.S. Congress for over 40 years. A fresh and contemporary political drama with unparalleled access to one of Congress’ first openly gay Representatives and easily one of the most captivating public figures in recent memory.
Born Jewish, and a longtime friend to the Jewish community and supporter of Israel, Frank is refreshingly honest, likeable and passionate – a beacon of statesmanship that politicians and citizens alike, can look to for inspiration.
Screenings will take place on Tuesday, March 1st at the Avalon Theatre at 6:15 p.m. and Wednesday, March 2 at the Dcjcc at 6:15 p.m. Both screenings followed by a discussion with Barney Frank, husband Jim Ready and filmmakers Sheila Canavan and Michael Chandler.
Spotlight Evening:
Gary Lucas’ Fleischerei: Music From Max Fleischer Cartoons
Celebrating the release of the titular album—on Silver Spring-based label Cuneiform—legendary guitarist Gary Lucas joins forces with Tony®-nominated singer and actress Sarah Stiles (Q Street,Hand to God) for a loving musical tribute to the swinging, jazzy soundtracks that adorned master animator Max Fleischer’s surreal, wacky and Yiddish-inflected "Betty Boop" and "Popeye" cartoons of the 1930’s.
Backed by the cartoons themselves, and the cream of NYC’s jazz performers (Jeff Lederer on reeds, Michael Bates on bass, Rob Garcia on drums and Mingus Big Band’s Joe Fiedler on trombone), Lucas and Stiles have a rare evening in store. Get ready for a swirling melting-pot of jungle-band jazz, Tin Pan Alley torch songs, raucous vaudeville turns, and Dixieland mixed with a pinch of Klezmer.
This event will take place at AFI Silver Theatre on Saturday, March 5 at 8:30 p.m.
Additional Films of Note
The Wjff will present the mid-Atlantic premiere of "Barash." In the film, seventeen-year-old Naama Barash enjoys drugs, alcohol and hanging out with like-minded friends. Her activities are an escape from a strained home life where her parents fight and her rebellious, army-enrolled sister wreaks havoc by dating a Palestinian before going Awol all together. As her parents fret about their older daughter’s disappearance, Naama meets a wild girl in school and discovers the intoxicating rush of first love. “Barash” will be screened three times during the festival, on February 27 at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema, on March 2 at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre and on March 3 at 6:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema.
"Black Jews: The Roots of the Olive Tree" will have its World Premiere at Wjff. The documentary offers a fascinating exploration of African tribes with Jewish roots – in Nigeria, Ghana, Senegal and Cameroon. Some claim to be descendants of the Ten Lost Tribes; others believe their ancestors were Jews who immigrated from Judea to Yemen. Far from a dry archaeological account, the film focuses on the modern-day personal and institutional practice of Judaism throughout Africa, as well as of recent African immigrants in Israel. This film will be screened on March 2 at 6:45 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and on March 3 at 6:30 p.m. at E Street Cinema.
The mid-Atlantic premiere of "Demon," from director Marcin Wrona, features a chilling, modern interpretation of the Dybbuk legend. Piotr’s joy at visiting his bride-to-be at her Polish home is quickly upended by his discovery of human bones on the property. Since his future father-in-law plans to gift the newlyweds the land, Piotr at first overlooks this ominous find. The disturbed spirit inhabiting these remains isn’t willing to let him off so easily however. Marcin Wrona’s wickedly sharp and creepy story of possession is set against a bacchanal celebration of blissful union. “Demon” will be screened on February 25th at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema and on March 1 at 9:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.
From Spain, the mid-Atlantic premiere of "Dirty Wolves" is a WWII thriller imbued with notes of magical realism. Director Simón Casal works in the Wolfram (aka tungsten) mines in rural Galicia. A ruthless Nazi brigade, intent on harvesting the rare metal to feed the Third Reich’s war machine, has captured the mines. When Manuela’s sister helps a Jewish prisoner cross the border to Portugal, they are unwittingly forced into a desperate test, which puts their survival squarely at odds with their sense of justice. “Dirty Wolves” will be screened on February 27 at 6:15 p.m. at West End Cinema, on March 1 at 8:45 p.m. at the Avalon Theatre and on March 2 at 6:45 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.
In "The Hebrew Superhero," directors Saul Betser and Asaf Galay examine how Israelis long shunned comics as something on the cultural fringe – they were deemed childish, trivial and, perhaps most cuttingly, un-Israeli. Shaul Betser and Asaf Galay (“The Muses of Isaac Bashevis Singer”) outline the medium’s origins, tracing its evolution from quirky upstart to an indelible reflection on the various forms of Israeli heroes. Featuring gorgeous animation and interviews with Daniella London Dekel, Etgar Keret and Dudu Geva, Wjff is presenting the mid-Atlantic premiere of this documentary, which will be screened on February 25 at 7:15 p.m. at the AFI Silver Theatre, March 1 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at E Street Cinema.
Simone Veil’s intrepid fight to legalize abortion in France is brilliantly brought to life in "The Law." In 1974, Veil was charged with decriminalizing abortion and easing access to contraceptives. Facing strong opposition from politicians, an enraged public and the Catholic Church, Veil— an Auschwitz survivor—refused to give up. Fighting for justice amidst a swirl of anti-Semitic sentiment, sexism and personal attacks, her perseverance struck at the heart of national bigotry in a rallying cry for a woman’s right to choose. Wjff will present the D.C. premiere of this French film. It will be screened on February 25 at 8:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema, on February 29 at 8:45 p.m. at E Street Cinema and on March 5 at 4:45 p.m. at the Dcjcc.
At 90, Miriam Beerman is a survivor. This groundbreaking artist and Potomac, Maryland resident has overcome personal tragedy to inspire friends, family, peers, patrons and students about how to remain defiant, creative and strong. Miriam has struggled with her artistic demons to create haunting images that evoke the suffering of generations of victims. "Miriam Beerman: Expressing the Chaosis" a memorable profile of an artist who has elevated her empathy for the plight of the world’s cast-offs into powerful portrayals of dignity. The Wjff is hosting the mid-Atlantic premiere of this documentary. Screenings will take place on March 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 3 at 6:15 p.m. at the Dcjcc.
Author and director David Bezmozgis brings his film "Natasha" to Wjff for its D.C. premiere. Adapting his prize-winning story collection,Natasha and Other Stories, to screen, Bezmogis delivers a tragic story of young love. Sixteen-year-old Mark Berman, the son of Latvian-Jewish immigrants, wiles away his hours reading Nietzsche, smoking pot and watching porn. His slacker lifestyle is upended when a 14-year-old hurricane, named Natasha, enters the picture. Drawn to her reckless ways and whispers of her promiscuous past, Mark enters an illicit romance with calamitous consequences. Screenings will take place on February 28 at 5:00 p.m. at West End Cinema, March 3 at 8:30 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 5 at 6:15 p.m. at AFI Silver Theatre.
If you believe the fastest way to the heart is through the stomach, "In Search of Israeli Cuisine" offers a delectable, eye-popping culinary journey through Israel is your personal valentine. Weaving through bustling markets, restaurants, kitchens and farms, we meet cooks, vintners and cheese makers drawn from the wide gamut of cultures making up Israel today — Jewish, Arab, Muslim, Christian and Druze. With James Beard award-winning chef Michael Solomonov as your guide, get ready for a cinematic buffet that’s humorous, heady, and of course, delicious! Wjff will be showing the mid-Atlantic premiere of this new documentary. Screenings will take place on February 28 at 5:15 p.m. at E Street Cinema, March 1 at 8:15 p.m. at Bethesda Row Cinema and March 4 at 12:30 p.m. at the Dcjcc.
A complete festival schedule can be found online at www.wjff.org...
- 1/15/2016
- by Sydney Levine
- Sydney's Buzz
Natasha
Directed by David Bezmozgis
Canada, 2015
Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
Mark (Alex Ozerov) is a typical suburban teenager. He doesn’t want to get a summer job (who needs one when selling pot will trump any minimum wage gig?), he parties with his friends, and he watches porn. When his uncle marries a Russian immigrant Mark and his new cousin Natasha (Sasha K. Gordon) start an unexpected, illicit relationship.
David Bezmozgis’ second feature tries to tackle a lot. Issues of the immigrant experience, Arab-Israeli conflict, and sex worker exploitation all come out, at least as background. Though the film bites off a lot, it’s really digestible in the simple conversations between Mark and Natasha. The two have a decent chemistry that easily transcends the rest of the movie, which is sometimes awash in cliché and clumsiness.
There are believability issues in the film. Sometimes it’s small and insignificant:...
Directed by David Bezmozgis
Canada, 2015
Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival
Mark (Alex Ozerov) is a typical suburban teenager. He doesn’t want to get a summer job (who needs one when selling pot will trump any minimum wage gig?), he parties with his friends, and he watches porn. When his uncle marries a Russian immigrant Mark and his new cousin Natasha (Sasha K. Gordon) start an unexpected, illicit relationship.
David Bezmozgis’ second feature tries to tackle a lot. Issues of the immigrant experience, Arab-Israeli conflict, and sex worker exploitation all come out, at least as background. Though the film bites off a lot, it’s really digestible in the simple conversations between Mark and Natasha. The two have a decent chemistry that easily transcends the rest of the movie, which is sometimes awash in cliché and clumsiness.
There are believability issues in the film. Sometimes it’s small and insignificant:...
- 11/10/2015
- by Neal Dhand
- SoundOnSight
Saban Films has acquired North American rights to the Kit Harrington thriller based on the BBC TV series.
Peter Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Tuppence Middleton and Elyes Gabel round out the key cast on Bharat Nalluri’s adaptation of the series he directed.
Mi-5 will open theatrically towards the end of the year and centres on the British secret service in pursuit of an escaped terrorist.
Ollie Madden, Jane Featherstone and Stephen Garrett produced for Shine Pictures and Kudos. Wme Global represented the filmmakers in the deal.
The Weinstein Company has picked up Us, Canada, China and Hong Kong to British TV drama Love, Nina from a script by Nick Hornby. Helena Bonham Carter will lead the cast on the See-Saw Films project that is shooting in London. The BBC holds UK broadcast rights to the story of a nanny’s eye-opening job at a sophisticated and free-spirited 1980s household.FilmBuff has acquired worldwide rights to Chad Gracia’s Sundance...
Peter Firth, Jennifer Ehle, Tuppence Middleton and Elyes Gabel round out the key cast on Bharat Nalluri’s adaptation of the series he directed.
Mi-5 will open theatrically towards the end of the year and centres on the British secret service in pursuit of an escaped terrorist.
Ollie Madden, Jane Featherstone and Stephen Garrett produced for Shine Pictures and Kudos. Wme Global represented the filmmakers in the deal.
The Weinstein Company has picked up Us, Canada, China and Hong Kong to British TV drama Love, Nina from a script by Nick Hornby. Helena Bonham Carter will lead the cast on the See-Saw Films project that is shooting in London. The BBC holds UK broadcast rights to the story of a nanny’s eye-opening job at a sophisticated and free-spirited 1980s household.FilmBuff has acquired worldwide rights to Chad Gracia’s Sundance...
- 9/22/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Zvyagintsev, Hazanov and Harö projects set for 2nd Northern Seas Film Forum.
Projects by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Elena Hazanov and Klaus Harö are among 24 projects being presented at the 2nd Northern Seas Film Forum (Oct 6-8) co-production market during the inaugural St Petersburg International Media Forum (Oct 1-11).
Zvyagintsev, who won best screenplay at this year’s Cannes with Leviathan, is in talks with Russian producer Vasily Korvyakov and Fyodor Druzin of the UK-Russian production outfit Curb Denizen to direct the $5m drama No Tolstoy about the legendary writer’s wife and family fighting over his inheritance after his death.
Russia’s Oscar selection committee yesterday submitted Leviathan to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards.
Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky told journalists that he would support the film’s Russian theatrical release so that it can be released on more than 1,000 prints by A Company in cooperation with 20th Century Fox Russia on Nov...
Projects by Andrey Zvyagintsev, Elena Hazanov and Klaus Harö are among 24 projects being presented at the 2nd Northern Seas Film Forum (Oct 6-8) co-production market during the inaugural St Petersburg International Media Forum (Oct 1-11).
Zvyagintsev, who won best screenplay at this year’s Cannes with Leviathan, is in talks with Russian producer Vasily Korvyakov and Fyodor Druzin of the UK-Russian production outfit Curb Denizen to direct the $5m drama No Tolstoy about the legendary writer’s wife and family fighting over his inheritance after his death.
Russia’s Oscar selection committee yesterday submitted Leviathan to the Best Foreign Language Film category of the Academy Awards.
Minister of Culture Vladimir Medinsky told journalists that he would support the film’s Russian theatrical release so that it can be released on more than 1,000 prints by A Company in cooperation with 20th Century Fox Russia on Nov...
- 9/29/2014
- by screen.berlin@googlemail.com (Martin Blaney)
- ScreenDaily
Principal photography got underway this week in Toronto on David Bezmozgis’ drama. Mongrel Media holds Canadian rights.
Natasha stars Alex Ozerov, Sasha Gordon and Deanna Dezmari and centres on the slacker son of Russian immigrants who embarks upon an affair with the daughter of his uncle’s intended bride.
The film is scheduled for early 2015 and is based on one of the tales from Bezmozgis’ first published novel, Natasha And Other Stories.
Bill Marks and Deborah Marks produce the feature, which was made with the backing of Telefilm Canada.
Natasha stars Alex Ozerov, Sasha Gordon and Deanna Dezmari and centres on the slacker son of Russian immigrants who embarks upon an affair with the daughter of his uncle’s intended bride.
The film is scheduled for early 2015 and is based on one of the tales from Bezmozgis’ first published novel, Natasha And Other Stories.
Bill Marks and Deborah Marks produce the feature, which was made with the backing of Telefilm Canada.
- 7/11/2014
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Philip Roth turns 80 next month, with 27 novels behind him, but when he announced his retirement last November, it felt like he was actually cutting something short—possibly the most prolific, probably the most distinguished, and certainly the most debated career in postwar American fiction. Roth was never just a novelist to readers but an iconoclast and narcissist, a Jewish cultural hero (villain to some), a (probable) misogynist, a literary celebrity who folded his own life into novels like they were tabloids (or metafictions?) and, after Toni Morrison, our great American hope, The Man Who Should Win the Nobel Prize (If Any Man Should). Just ahead of Philip Roth: Unmasked, an intimate documentary airing on PBS next month, we asked a panel of 30 literati to assess his oeuvre.Participants: Steven Amsterdam, Sam Anderson, Rosecrans Baldwin, Elif Batuman, Christopher Beha, David Bezmozgis, Charles Bock, Nic Brown, Joshua Cohen, Siddhartha Deb, Bret...
- 2/25/2013
- Vulture
The New Yorker, Vanity Fair’s chief athletics rival, has published its much-anticipated list of the 20 best fiction writers under 40. The names of the canon inductees will be published in next week’s fiction double issue. The list has also been published in a New York Times piece, which is available right this moment. The chosen ones: “Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, 32; Chris Adrian, 39; Daniel Alarcon, 33; David Bezmozgis, 37; Sarah Shun-lien Bynum, 38; Joshua Ferris, 35; Jonathan Safran Foer, 33; Nell Freudenberger, 35; Rivka Galchen, 34; Nicole Krauss, 35; Yiyun Li, 37; Dinaw Mengestu, 31; Philipp Meyer, 36; C. E. Morgan, 33; Tea Obreht, 24; Z Z Packer, 37; Karen Russell, 28; Salvatore Scibona, 35; Gary Shteyngart, 37; and Wells Tower, 37.” This is the most exciting thing to happen in the young-ish literary community since The Paris Review started a blog!
- 6/2/2010
- Vanity Fair
Yesterday, the Genie Awards, Canada's equivalent of the Oscars for those who don't know, were handed out. This year, Polytechnique dominated the Genie Awards and even took the award for Best Motion Picture. However, the presentation of the award on TV and on webcast was too short. Besides, it wasn't a live presentation and not all the awards were shows on TV/webcast. Second Besides: When will a TV network (and not some cable network that few Canadians have) broadcast the Genie Awards? Anyway, without further ado, here's the presentation of the winners.
1. Best Motion Picture
* 3 saisons.
* Before Tomorrow.
* Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* [Winner] Polytechnique.
2. Achievement in Direction:
* Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu for Before Tomorrow.
* Kari Skogland - Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Charles Officer - Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* [Winner] Denis Villeneuve - Polytechnique.
* Bruce McDonald - Pontypool.
3. Best Original Screenplay:
* Atom Egoyan - Adoration.
* Émile Gaudreault and Ian Lauzon - De père en flic...
1. Best Motion Picture
* 3 saisons.
* Before Tomorrow.
* Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* [Winner] Polytechnique.
2. Achievement in Direction:
* Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu for Before Tomorrow.
* Kari Skogland - Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Charles Officer - Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* [Winner] Denis Villeneuve - Polytechnique.
* Bruce McDonald - Pontypool.
3. Best Original Screenplay:
* Atom Egoyan - Adoration.
* Émile Gaudreault and Ian Lauzon - De père en flic...
- 4/13/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
The 16th annual Bradford International Film Festival, which will run March 18-28, is a total celebration of all forms of cinema, from classic films to modern world cinema to a tribute to Cinerama and more. But, most excitingly, is a bombastic collection of some of the best, most exciting underground films being made today.
From Bad Lit’s perspective, the most thrilling screening of the entire 10-day affair is the new film by British filmmaker Peter Whitehead, Terrorism Considered as One of the Fine Arts. In the U.S., Whitehead is a “lost” filmmaker from the underground’s heyday in the ’60s, being left out of most histories of the underground movement. Whitehead directed several influential films, including Wholly Communion and The Fall, before dropping out of filmmaking in the mid-’70s.
Film historian Jack Sargeant wrote extensively about and interviewed Whitehead for his wonderful book on Beat cinema, Naked Lens.
From Bad Lit’s perspective, the most thrilling screening of the entire 10-day affair is the new film by British filmmaker Peter Whitehead, Terrorism Considered as One of the Fine Arts. In the U.S., Whitehead is a “lost” filmmaker from the underground’s heyday in the ’60s, being left out of most histories of the underground movement. Whitehead directed several influential films, including Wholly Communion and The Fall, before dropping out of filmmaking in the mid-’70s.
Film historian Jack Sargeant wrote extensively about and interviewed Whitehead for his wonderful book on Beat cinema, Naked Lens.
- 3/5/2010
- by Mike Everleth
- Underground Film Journal
It's one of those years where the great Atom Egoyan's contribution to cinema is totally insignificant (Adoration received 2 noms) and where Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique, in my books the best Canadian film of the year, grabbed the high count total of eleven nominations for the 30th Genie Awards. - It's one of those years where the great Atom Egoyan's contribution to cinema is totally insignificant (Adoration received 2 noms) and where Denis Villeneuve's Polytechnique, in my books the best Canadian film of the year, grabbed the high count total of eleven nominations for the 30th Genie Awards. What is somewhat odd is how Canada's most internationally celebrated film in I Killed My Mother (J'ai tue ma mere) from Xavier Dolan receive not one single vote, a crime when you consider the textured writing, fluid cinematography and the brilliant performance from Anne Dorval - who plays the neurotic mother...
- 3/2/2010
- IONCINEMA.com
This morning, the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television (Acct) had announced the nominees for the 30th Genie Awards. For those who don't know, this is the Canadian equivalent of the Oscars. This year, the leader in the race is Polytechnique with 11 nominations. Moreover, the winners will be announced on April 12, 2010.
1. Best Motion Picture
* 3 saisons.
* Before Tomorrow.
* Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* Polytechnique.
2. Achievement in Direction:
* Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu for Before Tomorrow.
* Kari Skogland - Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Charles Officer - Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* Denis Villeneuve - Polytechnique.
* Bruce McDonald - Pontypool.
3. Best Original Screenplay:
* Atom Egoyan - Adoration.
* Émile Gaudreault and Ian Lauzon - De père en flic (Father and Guns).
* Charles Officer and Ingrid Veninger - Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* Jacques Davidts - Polytechnique.
* David Bezmozgis - Victoria Day.
4. Best Adapted Screenplay:
* Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Susan Avingaq and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu - Before Tomorrow.
* Kari Skogland - Fifty Dead Men Walking.
1. Best Motion Picture
* 3 saisons.
* Before Tomorrow.
* Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* Polytechnique.
2. Achievement in Direction:
* Marie-Hélène Cousineau and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu for Before Tomorrow.
* Kari Skogland - Fifty Dead Men Walking.
* Charles Officer - Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* Denis Villeneuve - Polytechnique.
* Bruce McDonald - Pontypool.
3. Best Original Screenplay:
* Atom Egoyan - Adoration.
* Émile Gaudreault and Ian Lauzon - De père en flic (Father and Guns).
* Charles Officer and Ingrid Veninger - Nurse.Fighter.Boy.
* Jacques Davidts - Polytechnique.
* David Bezmozgis - Victoria Day.
4. Best Adapted Screenplay:
* Marie-Hélène Cousineau, Susan Avingaq and Madeline Piujuq Ivalu - Before Tomorrow.
* Kari Skogland - Fifty Dead Men Walking.
- 3/1/2010
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
If you're an aficionado of literature, you're probably aware that this is the feature debut of David Bezmozgis, an acclaimed author. I haven't read his book Natasha and Other Stories. Nonetheless, Bezmozgis is definitely a director to watch for the years to come because of his writing skills. However, the cast's performance in Victoria Day is often soft at times.
1988: It's Victoria Day, school is almost over and the Edmonton Oilers (which had Wayne Gretzky at that time) were fighting in the NHL playoffs against the Boston Bruins. Ben Spector (Mark Rendall), a teenager from a Russian immigrant family living in Toronto, decides to attend to a concert of Bob Dylan with his two best friends. Once there, he runs into Jordan Chapman (Mitchell Amaral), the class jerk and Ben's annoying teammate in his amateur hockey team, who is five dollars shy of buying some drugs. Ben gives Jordan five dollars without enthusiasm.
1988: It's Victoria Day, school is almost over and the Edmonton Oilers (which had Wayne Gretzky at that time) were fighting in the NHL playoffs against the Boston Bruins. Ben Spector (Mark Rendall), a teenager from a Russian immigrant family living in Toronto, decides to attend to a concert of Bob Dylan with his two best friends. Once there, he runs into Jordan Chapman (Mitchell Amaral), the class jerk and Ben's annoying teammate in his amateur hockey team, who is five dollars shy of buying some drugs. Ben gives Jordan five dollars without enthusiasm.
- 10/27/2009
- by anhkhoido@hotmail.com (Anh Khoi Do)
- The Cultural Post
Victoria Day exists as a snippet of life. It's the story you tell family and friends about the event that changed you, and turned you into an adult. With that comes the simplicity of these stories. The tale of anyone's transition to adulthood is not a glamorous Hollywood blockbuster. Most of us lost a friend, came to grips with our parents as people, had our heart broken, or faced other similarly banal situations. David Bezmozgis' film is that story for one young man. Ben Spektor is enjoying his life as a young adult in 1988. He's a star player on the high school hockey team, the next Gretsky if his father has anything to say about it. Jordan Chapman is Ben's teammate, and perpetual tormentor. While out catching a Bob Dylan concert Ben runs into Jordan, who needs five bucks to buy some drugs. Ben hands over the cash and...
- 1/20/2009
- cinemablend.com
U.S. Dramatic Competition
This year's 16 films were selected from 1,026 submissions. Each film is a world premiere.
Adam (Director-screenwriter: Max Mayer)
A strange and lyrical love story between a somewhat socially dysfunctional young man and the woman of his dreams. Cast: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving, Frankie Faison.
Amreeka (Director-screenwriter: Cherien Dabis)
When a divorced Palestinian woman and her teenage son move to rural Illinois at the outset of the Iraq war, they find their new lives replete with challenges. Cast: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass, Yussuf Abu-Warda, Alia Shawkat.
Big Fan (Director-screenwriter: Robert Siegel)
The world of a parking garage attendant who happens to be the New York Giants' biggest fan is turned upside down after an altercation with his favorite player. Cast: Patton Oswalt, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Matt Servitto.
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (Director-screenwriter: John Krasinski)
When her boyfriend leaves with little explanation,...
This year's 16 films were selected from 1,026 submissions. Each film is a world premiere.
Adam (Director-screenwriter: Max Mayer)
A strange and lyrical love story between a somewhat socially dysfunctional young man and the woman of his dreams. Cast: Hugh Dancy, Rose Byrne, Peter Gallagher, Amy Irving, Frankie Faison.
Amreeka (Director-screenwriter: Cherien Dabis)
When a divorced Palestinian woman and her teenage son move to rural Illinois at the outset of the Iraq war, they find their new lives replete with challenges. Cast: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass, Yussuf Abu-Warda, Alia Shawkat.
Big Fan (Director-screenwriter: Robert Siegel)
The world of a parking garage attendant who happens to be the New York Giants' biggest fan is turned upside down after an altercation with his favorite player. Cast: Patton Oswalt, Michael Rapaport, Kevin Corrigan, Marcia Jean Kurtz, Matt Servitto.
Brief Interviews With Hideous Men (Director-screenwriter: John Krasinski)
When her boyfriend leaves with little explanation,...
- 12/3/2008
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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