"The Matchmaker (Pa’am Ha’iti)" Photo: Eyal Landesman
While Tucson is home to many unique and interesting film festivals each year, one of the highlights for many film lovers every January is the Tucson International Jewish Film Festival, which takes place this year from January 12-22.
The festival features a wide range of screenings, including features, shorts and even an animated movie, dealing with issues relative to Jewish history as well as the contemporary Jewish experience. It’s not just for Jewish audiences however. The films are universal stories placed in a Jewish context. Drawn from around the world, many of these films are making their Tucson debut at the festival, and promise to be excellent.
Lynn Davis, Director of Arts and Culture for the Tucson Jewish Community Center (TJCC), praised this year’s films as having a “great range and being full of diversity.” Finding a balance that is appealing to both an older generation as well as a younger group is a challenge, as is not highlighting too many films in a specific genre.
“The volunteer-driven festival has established a niche that enables the festival co-chairs and committee to seek out compelling films and not rely on submissions,” Davis explained.
Unique to the Tucson festival is the LGBT series that screens at the Grand Cinemas Crossroads 6, 4811 E. Grant Rd. “No other Jewish Film Festival in the country has a dedicated program for LGBT issues” said Davis.
Many of the films on the schedule have YouTube trailers in order to help guide your choices in advance, and here are a few films that caught my eye:
Eichmann’s End Set in Buenos Aires in 1957, this film tells the story of a young woman who discovers her boyfriend is the son of fugitive Nazi Adolph Eichmann. Her work to help Israeli agents capture him is similar to the recent Hollywood film “The Debt.” Friday, January 13, 1:30 p.m.
Sholem Aleichem: Laughing in the Darkness This documentary traces the life of Yiddish author Sholem Aleichem through writings, photographs and old film clips, to trace the immigrant experience and how cultures become entwined, while retaining their core spirit.' Saturday, January 14, 7 p.m.
Strangers No More The 2011 Oscar-winning documentary explores the success of a school in Tel Aviv that has students from 48 different countries and cultures. It explores how all of the students work together despite their differences. Sunday, January 15, 1:30 p.m.
The Jazz Baroness A true story of an unlikely relationship between British heiress Lady Rothschild and jazz legend Thelonious Monk. This is a riveting mystery that is unraveled by documentary filmmaker and relative, Hannah Rothschild. Monday, January 16, 7 p.m.
An Ordinary Execution The tale of Stalin’s secret Jewish doctor, in 1952. Tuesday, January 17, 1:30 p.m.
The Matchmaker (Pa’am Ha’iti) 16 year-old Arik gets a summer job as apprentice to the neighborhood matchmaker and learns about the world of love and friendship. Wednesday, January 18, 1:30 p.m.
Lenin In October When a Russian immigrant’s dream to open up a restaurant in Israel finally comes true, thanks to an inheritance, the strings of the gift cause problems. Friday, January 20, 1:45 p.m.
Most films, other than the LGBT series, screen at the TJCC auditorium, 3800 E. River Rd. For a full schedule visit the festival’s website TucsonJewishFilmFestival.org. Call 299-3000 for other details.
