Arts Entertainment
Jewish Film Festival
Cinematic Stew
Jewish-themed films from around the globe provide just the right ingredients for a flavorful Detroit festival.
SUZANNE CHESSLER
Special to the Jewish News
711
he Jewish Community Center Lenore
. Marwil Jewish Film Festival has gone
international as Windsor joins the list of
cities participating in the fifth annual
presentation of movies with Jewish themes.
Community interest has extended the number of
movies being shown from 10 films the first year to
26 last year and 33 this year. In addition, five days
have been added to this year's festival, which will
run April 27-May 8 at theaters in Commerce
Township, Birmingham and Ann Arbor as well as
Windsor.
In what has
become a grow-
ing market for
Jewish cinema,
the growth of the
festival has been
very dramatic.
Attendance in the
first year was
Festival co-chairs Susan Marwil
2,000 and has
increased steadily and Martin Hollander
— 3,600 in the
second year, 8,200 in the third year and 11,000 last
year.
The budget, based on ticket sales and contribu-
tions, is four times what it was at the start and is
now approaching six figures. Because of viewer
enthusiasm, the festival just about breaks even
financially, says festival director David Magidson.
This year, only one of the features, A Tickle in the
Heart, is a festival repeat. The movie, about klezmer
musicians making a comeback as younger perform-
ers reclaim their musical style, was shown two years
ago to sellout crowds and is being shown again
because of its popularity.
All the films together, both works of fiction and
documentaries, run the gamut of life experiences
with some unexpected dramatic twists. Romance,
lifestyles, survival and immigration enter the mix.
Also new this year is the awarding of a cash prize,
the Harold and Sarah Gottlieb Award for Best New
Jewish Film. Acclaimed filmmaker Frederick
Wiseman will be one of the guest speakers as his
prize-winning feature, The Last Letter, becomes the
festival centerpiece.
"I think one of the major achievements of this fes-
tival has been the creation of an incentive to make
Jewish films," says Magidson, working with Susan
Marwil and Martin W. Hollander as film festival
chairs.
"The prize winner receives $7,500, and this year,
the film is about a mother who writes to her son as
she anticipates her death at the hands of Nazis."
Magidson, Marwil and Hollander make the final
4/11
2003
92
decisions on the films
to be shown after using
many resources, includ-
ing contacts with direc-
tors of other Jewish
film festivals and arti-
cles about new releases.
A committee of 10
chose the prize winner.
While many of the
films are very serious,
there also are a number
of comedies.
My Dear Clara, a seri-
ous example, combines
a love story with actions
that changed Canadian
immigration laws.
The comic Schmelvis:
Searching for the King's
Jewish Roots is a must-
see for Elvis fans, who
also can hear about
making the film from
producer Ari Cohen, a
guest speaker in Ann
Arbor.
• Local Connections
A number of local, per-
Above: Festival director
sonal ties add to the
David Magidson:
cinema showcase.
"The Jewish community
The festival's hon-
is a pan-national community
orary chairman is
and that idea is captured
Lawrence Kasdan, a
in these films."
University of Michigan
graduate who has
Top: Filmmaker Lawrence
directed and/or written Kasdan, a U-M grad, is
many major films,
the festival's honorary
including The Big Chill, chairperson.
The Bodyguard and
Mumford.
With his latest feature, Dreamcatcher, newly
released in theaters, Kasdan's appearance at the festi-
val depends on work commitments.
Oscar-winning Ted Petok, an animation expert
living in Michigan, will be represented by Missing
You and The Execution. The films, comic shorts,
touch a lot of bases from singing frogs to Mata
Hari.
Gina Horwitz, who takes on human resources and
editing responsibilities at the Detroit Jewish News,
has previewed Ruthie and Connie, a film about a
long-term lesbian relationship. The women who are
the subjects of the film were Florida neighbors of
her parents, seen in a small segment of the footage.
"This is a wonderful film that can be a real educa-
tion," says Horwitz, who will be meeting the
women for the first time when they prepare to speak
at a screening.
"It gives an honest glimpse into this story of love
and presents the impact of the women's Jewish her-
itage. It's also very emotional as it shows the high
and low points of their relationship."
Mike Burstyn, who has entertained in the Detroit
area many times and been entertained by Detroiters
as he made friends during extended stays, is one
subject of The Komediant, which tells how his fami-
ly came to star on both Yiddish and American
stages.
Burstyn, who changed his last name from
Burstein before going on Broadway, has appeared at
Congregation Shaarey Zedek as part of his bookings
in Michigan.
Sense Of Solidarity
"A number of people from Windsor have enjoyed
the festival in previous years, and that's why we
wanted to bring part of it to Windsor," says Vivian
Herzenberg, arts and culture coordinator at the
Windsor Jewish Community Center.
"We recently received a government grant that
helped support this program."
Two films will be shown across the border. The
Burial Society was selected because it was made in
Canada, and A Trumpet in the Wadi was chosen
because planners wanted a film set in Israel.
Michael Karpin, director of A Bomb in the
Basement, will be making a special trip from Israel
to Michigan to discuss his documentary about
nuclear weapons in the Mideast.
"The Jewish community is a pan-national com-
munity, and that idea is captured in these films,"
Magidson says. "We hope viewers will enjoy the
pure entertainment of our selections as well as the
cultural dimension.
"Jewish film festivals let people get together and
express what it means to be Jewish without being
directly involved with actual religious experiences.
"In that way, the program can provide a sense of
solidarity and peoplehood." 111
The Lenore Marwil Jewish Film Festival runs
April 27-May 8. Films will be shown April 27-
May 6 at United Artists Theatres in Commerce
Township, April 29-May 1 at the Birmingham
8 Theatres in Birmingham, May 4-8 at the
Michigan Theater in Ann Arbor and May 1 at
the Palace Theatre in Windsor. General festival
passes are $95/$85 seniors. Ann Arbor passes
are $48/$42 seniors. Single films are $8/$7 sen-
iors. For tickets, call (248).788-2900; for group
rates and information, call (248) 432-5577.
Tickets also are available at www.jccdetorg.