•• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • ••
• • • • • • • • •
STAR-CROSS'D LOVERS from page 67
•
Art Glass & Pottery
•
Bakelite
•
China
•
Compacts
•
Crystal
•
Depression Glass
•
Fiestaware
Film warns of assimilation,
anti-Semitism.
MICHAEL FOX
Special to the Jewish News
A
dreamy, haunting fairy tale of
European anti-Semitism in
thel9th century, Simon Magus
offers poetry and prayer as an antidote
to madness.
Yet as we know from the Holocaust,
which casts a shadow like a thunder-
cloud over this ambitious and unset-
tling British film, sometimes nothing
can calm the insanity.
The wild card is a poor
Jewish beggar named
Simon (Noah Taylor,
who played the young
David Helfgott in Shine). Alternately
pitied, feared and reviled by his Jewish
neighbors, Simon isn't even counted
as a man by the rabbi.
But he's also delusional, given to
visions of the devil (Ian Holm).
When Simon is mistreated by the
Jews, the devil instructs him to visit
the gentile part of town, find the
church and convert to Christianity.
The desperate, lunatic Simon — who
has a memorable late-night encounter
with a demonic train — is richly sym-
bolic, but just what he represents will
spark most of the post-movie discussion.
Is writer-director Ben Hopkins hint-
ing that assimilation provides no guar-
antee of protection from anti-Semites?
Or perhaps he's suggesting that our
enemies can't do their work without
the help of some Jews.
Indeed, the last sound in the movie,
as the music fades at the end of the
credits, is steel wheels on track: the
dirge of the transports.
Perhaps Hopkins is so audacious as to
imagine Simon as a metaphor for God.
Near the end of the film, as Simon walks
alone in the dark, the other characters
feel the wind rising but see nothing.
While Simon Magus falls just short of
profundity, it deserves -- much like one
of the squire's poems — to be experi-
enced, savored and debated. El
Simon Magus, which played this
year at the JCC's Lenore Marwil
Jewish Film Festival, will be
screened 7:30 p.m. Monday,
Oct. 8, by the Detroit Film
Theatre at the Detroit Institute
of Arts. $6. (313) 833-3237.
•
,4 1.4 . 44puos ch
•
•
•
aho
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
30 dealers offering a variety of quality
antiques & collectibles, estate and vintage
jewelry, unique gifts and bridal registry
Ironstone
•
•
•
;
Handbags
•
'Simon Magus'
•
•
Furniture
•
•
•
•
Flow Blue
•
Guild (ATAG). Now in its fifth year,
ATAG is the only Arab American
theater group in town, and does
both English and Arabic perform-
ances.
Working with the Jewish communi-
ty posed a problem for some in the
Arab community, but, after dis-
cussing what JET was up to, the
ATAG board decided whatever the
risk was, it was worth it.
Alcodray's theater work brings him
in contact with many in the Jewish
and other theater communities, and
they all try to assist each other. ATAG
was asked to help make the produc-
tion as authentic as possible, and
acted as host at the Sept. 16 session
at ACCESS.
"If we didn't get involved, we
couldn't impact on how Arab culture
was presented," Alcodray said.
ATAG board member Karim Alrawi
of Dearborn agreed.
was at the Seeds of Peace dinner
and it was sold out; they had to turn
people away," said Alrawi, who took
that as a sign that "there is a sizable
percentage in both communities who
want to move forward."
He sees it as a process of trust. And
he appreciated the trust JET showed
in ATAG when the Jewish theater
group asked for help.
"Now more than ever, this produc-
tion is necessary," Alcodray adds.
"Not just for the sake of the produc-
tion, but for the sake of our commu-
nities."
But as Arab and Jew, and as all
Americans, struggle to make sense of
what has, and is, happening, the old
theater adage applies: "The show
must go on.
"Ver veist — who knew — all this
would be happening?" said the irre-
pressible Orbach. "But the more it
heats up, the more we have to do it.
"The tragedy is mind-boggling, but
if we join hands, maybe we can make
a - bigger noise than the World Trade
Center toppling down." ❑
•
Costume, Fine,
Vintage & Sterling
Jewelry
•
Lighting
•
Linens
•
•
Sterling Silver
Are you interested in selling some of your
treasures? We accept consignments,
purchase outright and conduct estate sales!
Majolica
Monday-Saturday: 10:00am-6:00pm
Sundays: 11:00pm-5:00pm
•
Toys
•
Vintage Clothing
•
Vintage Telephones
•
Watches & Pocket
•
Watches
115 South Main Street Royal Oak, MI
248.545.4663
•
•• • • • • • • • •• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •• • • •
riareeefOre
WYV.44.044MOMNSOMMMTNEMPAMORNIRMOSWAEMES16MIPMe
29556
Orchard Lake Rd.
Just N. of 13 Mile
On the East Side
COUPON
COUPON
p 0 DINE-IN • CARRY-OUT
CATERING
y4 Open Mon.-Sat. 6:30 - 3:00
Sun. 8:00 - 3:00
• Huge Eggwhite Omelets
0. 4 • Homemade Soup
0 • Waffles
• Lo-Cal Menu
• Bagels & Lox
6 • Fresh Salads
0 • Fresh-Baked Muffins
(248) .626-0804
Fax: (248) 626-0814
calf
10% OFF
S
-
FREE
TOTAL BILL
EVERYDAY
WITH ANY SALAD FROM
OUR LARGE SALAD MENU
Not Valid With Any Other Offer
Expires 11/30/01
Not Valid With Any Other Offer
Expires 11/30/01
CUP OF HOMEMADE
SOUP
L
I.
W.M4AWANAISS
k4024:NMSWAMMONNWANOMMINSMMI0714= 7.4E.
A
•
"
Romeo and Juliet runs 7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8
p.m. Saturdays and 2 and 7:30
p.m. Sundays, Oct. 17 - Nov. 18,
at the Aaron DeRoy Theatre in
the West Bloomfield Jewish
Community Center. There will be
a 2 p.m. Wednesday matinee on
NON'. 7 (no evening performance
that day) and no evening per-
formance on Sunday, Nov. 11.
$21-$33. (248) 788-2900.
40
■ 1111•11111111.rW
Bangkok
Sala
Cafe
.40
ROMANO'S
CARRY OUT & CATERING
We've Moved
Across the Street!
THAI CUISINE
F
4139 Orchard Lake Rd • Orchard Lake
Next to Sweet Dreams
Buy One Lunch or Dinner
& Get a Second for
(248) 681-6000
50% OFF
We accept all major credit cards • Carry-out & Delivery
Catering Anytime • Open 7 days a week.
One per customer • Expires 12/31/01
I.
27903 Orchard Lake Rd. (NW corner of 12 Mile)
Farmington Hills
(248) 553-4220
Open 7 days a week
Mon-Sat 11 am - 10 pm
Sunday 4 pm - 9:30 pm
ME MO OM MI MEM 1111MM MO EEO MO WI
I Customer Appreciation Coupon
15% off
your next order
10/5
Pick-up only - Expires 10/31/01
Maximum Discount $10
2001
JN2
1E MEE EOM M M EWE M M M NEE MEE EEE M El
75