Ill Voices Unbound a', jil Lenore Marv,,, Ea Jubanos EC Beautiful Music Cuba, 2010, 43 minutes Spanish with English subtitles USA, 2005, 38 minutes Hebrew, Arabic and English with English subtitles Co-sponsored by JCC Center Travel, Etta Solway (z"I)* Co-sponsored by Heidi & Jeff Budaj, JCC's 60th Annual Jewish Book Fair Jewish Film Festival USA, 2010, 90 minutes, English Sponsored by Andi & Larry Wolfe*, Co-sponsored by the Henry & Delia Meyers Library and Media Center/ Joan & Robert Jampel*, Temple Shir Shalom Academy Award-nominated documentarian Daniel Anker chronicles the at-risk California high school class that inspired the Hollywood movie Freedom Writers, starring Hilary Swank. Teacher Erin Gruwell deviated from the curriculum and assigned her class to read The Diary of Anne Frank. Inspired to record their own thoughts, the students shared powerful stories of hopelessness, broken homes, drug dealing, homicide, abuse and gang violence. Their writing blossomed into a national bestseller. Incredibly moving and uplifting. Discussion to follow the West Bloomfield screening. Ea Ida's Dance Club An amazing story of the 1,500 Jews who, despite revolution, societal upheaval and a younger generation's attitude toward religion and tradition, keep the faith in Cuba. When the Cuban Revolution hit in 1961, religion was banned, leaving the Cuban Jewish community struggling to sustain itself for nearly three decades. With exclusive interviews from members of the scattered Jewish community, this documentary reveals the journey of a new generation of Cubans as it raises questions about faith, sustenance, strength and the future. A fascinating, moving portrait of a community and country that has been largely erased from public view. 2010 Winner Bechol Lashon Media Award Narrated by actress Brooke Shields, this documentary begins in 1987 when an Orthodox Jewish pianist in Jerusalem is asked to teach a blind, autistic, 9-year-old, Palestinian girl named Rasha. According to the girl's caretakers, she showed a tremendous ability for the piano, but it was beyond their capabilities to teach her. With tensions at an all-time high between Israelis and Palestinians during the onset of the first intifada, the teacher is hesitant to bring a Palestinian into her home. But after witnessing the girl's natural musical talents, she could not refuse. Bekowet: By the Will of G-d Following the film, join us for a discussion with Marilyn Wolfe, director of Center Travel En Nora's Will USA, 2009, 66 minutes English and Amharic, with English subtitles Co-sponsored by Heidi & Jeff Budaj, JCC's 60th Annual Jewish Book Fair Mexico, 2008, 92 minutes Israel, 2010, 59 minutes Hebrew, with English subtitles Co-sponsored by JCC Center Travel, Etta Solway (z"I)* Spanish and Hebrew, with English subtitles Sponsored by Jewish Federation of Kalamazoo, Co- sponsored by Greater Detroit Chapter of Hadassah, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) - Greater Detroit section Every year a ballroom dancing competition takes place at Ida's Dance Club. The competitors are way past retirement age, but that doesn't stop them from dancing, singing, falling in love and being disappointed. Nora's Will takes a humorous look at families who struggle to cope with the death of a loved one. The magical atmosphere of Ida's, along with graceful ballroom dancing, gives the guests the strength to overcome the wear and tear of time, health problems and difficult memories. They become princes and princesses, for whom anything is still a possibility. Jose is pained to learn that Nora, the woman he'd been married to for 30 years and then divorced, has committed suicide. The rabbi explains that because of upcoming Passover festivities, together with a few other factors, Nora must be buried that very afternoon - or wait almost five days. 2010 International Film Festival, USA Before Nora's death, she devised a Machiavellian plan that will take care of everything. Almost. Nora, it seems, missed something, a mysterious photograph that reveals how sometimes the greatest love stories are hidden in the smallest places. 2010 Winner, Honolulu International Film Festival, Excellence in Filmmaking Death can be painful, filled with sorrow, unbearable and - funny. Bekowet was only 9 years old when he overheard his parents say, "He is so sick, it would be better if he died." But Bekowet is determined to live. Hobbling 60 miles to the nearest town, he goes in search of help. He finds it in the unlikely figure of a Jewish doctor from America named Rick Hodes, the man who inspired Marilyn Berger's book This Is a Soul. It only takes one person to change the world, to heal a broken soul. Bekowet is the true story of a child, a man and a miracle. 2010 Sabes Foundation Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival 2010 Pioneer Valley Jewish Film Festival, Documentary Winner 2010 Toronto Jewish Film Festival 2009 Winner, Mexican Film Festival, Best Film and Best Director 248.661.1900 10 www.jccdet.org