"YOU'LL HAVE A BALL
AT 'BALLYHOO/

An Enchanting Comedy.
Fascinating and Entertaining!"

-Howard Kissel, NY Daily News

"A RICH, WONDERFUL PLAY!

The Real Thing!" -Richard Zoglin, Time Magazine

The DFT's Elliot Wilhelm offers a video guide
to films that expand our horizons.

fascinating. The guide is for people
who want to see something out of the
mainstream, find something that
sounds intriguing to them and then
lliot Wilhelm, film curator
go into a store and get it."
at the . Detroit Institute of
Wilhelm, who also introduces clas-
Arts (DIA), gives two prime
sic
American movies at 9 p.m. Fridays
reasons for his attraction to
on
WTVS-Channel
56, made his
foreign movies — the opportunity to
selections
for
the
book
from a pool of
experience different cultures and the
10,000
films.
Working
from
a data-
reminder of the sensibilities shared by
base
to
jog
his
memory,
he
says
his
people throughout the world.
choices were very personal, often films
Emphasizing these points through
that have changed his life in
his choices for the Detroit Film
Elliot Wilhelm: some way.
Theatre (DFT), his series at the
"Each film
"I didn't want to imply that
DIA, Wilhelm just completed a
becomes a part the guide is representative of I*
more one-on-one communica-
of me."
every nation on earth," Wil-
tion with his book, Video-
helm explains. "I did try to
Hound's World Cinema: The
put
in
a
wide
variety of countries and
Adventurer's Guide to Film Watching
a wide variety of programming. It was-
(Visible Ink Press, $19.95).
n't done on the basis of calculating
Besides reviewing 800 foreign films
percentages."
available on video, Wilhelm profiles
Although Wilhelm has not includ-
some of the outstanding filmmakers
ed
Israeli productions, he has refer-
working outside the United States.
enced
movies with Jewish stories and
"The whole issue of foreignness
others
with indirect Jewish substance.
seems to get broken down when peo-
The
Dybbuk, with a Yiddish sound-
ple start experiencing these films
track, follows a couple who turn to
because it's a way of establishing our
the occult when their marriage is
common humanity," he explains. "I
opposed by her father. The Golem, a
really believe that art can be a bridge
silent film from the '20s, recounts the
between cultures."
experiences of a humanoid clay figure
Forging that bridge since 1973,
brought to life to defend the Jews
when he accepted responsibility for
against pogroms.
showing foreign films at the DIA,
Birthplace accompanies a Polish-
Wilhelm worked hard at making the
born American as he returns to the
book a highly personal experience.
village of his childhood long after
Not wanting to make film recommen-
much of his family perished in the
dations, his reviews present his reasons
Holocaust. The Boat Is Full depicts
for enjoying individual productions.
German-Jewish refugees who pose as a
"These are not always the most
family seeking asylum in Switzerland.
famous films," says Wilhelm. "They
In structuring the book, Wilhelm
are films that I think people will find

SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to The Jewish News

E

Oct.I 4 thru Nov. 15

Jewish Ensemble Theatre
JCC • Aaron DeRoy Theatre
6600 West Maple Road • West Bloomfield

(248) 788-2900

http://comnet.org/jet

Qistoran Lc

a fe

DISTINGUISHED
RESTAURANTS OF
NORTH AMERICA
1997 AWARD OF
EXCELLENCE

10/16
1998

86 Detroit Jewish News

rtina

Private Garden Room or Fireside Setting for
parties, receptions, wedding rehearsals,
showers, bar mitzvahs, business meetings.
• Seating up to 200 people •

30715 W. TEN . MILE RD.

(Just East of Orchard Lake Rd.)

248.474.3033

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