Jewish Community Center, Sonoma County
Jewish Film Festival
2010 SEASON PROGRAM
Season Tickets
PETALUMA SCREENINGS:
TUESDAYS!
Boulevard Cinemas
200 C Street at Petaluma Blvd Petaluma
SANTA ROSA SCREENINGS: WEDNESDAYS!
Sixth Street Playhouse
52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa
in Historic Railroad Square
There is a $4.00 handling charge for each order.
A MATTER OF SIZE
Herzl is an obese, Israeli schlemiel who still lives with his
mother. After failing to lose an ounce at the local diet center,
he discovers sumo wrestling at the Japanese restaurant where
he washes dishes. The idea of using his extra body weight for
something interesting invigorates him and he talks his friends
into starting the first Israeli Sumo team. The plot turns on
the hilarious practice sessions, cultural clashes and romantic
intrigues. Winner of three Israeli Academy Awards (Ophir
Awards).
Comedy, Israel, 90 minutes, Hebrew and Japanese
with English subtitles.
Underwritten by Gordon Zlot of KJZY, KZST, KTRY Radio
YOO-HOO, MRS. GOLDBERG
For two and a half decades, Gertrude Berg, the creator of the
wildly popular radio and TV show, “The Goldbergs” was the
most famous woman in America, and the winner of the first
ever Emmy Award for Lead Actress in a Comedy Series. The
Oprah of her day, Gertrude Berg’s blend of comedy and social
commentary, with Jewish characters at the center, endeared
her to audiences and made her an American cultural icon.
This highly entertaining feature length documentary blends
interviews with Ed Asner, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Norman Lear,
and Susan Stamberg, among others.
Documentary, USA, 92
minutes, English.
Underwritten by Barry and Gail Ben-Zion
NORA'S WILL
Nora plots to reunite her family and friends by ending her life
on the eve of Passover. In this dark comedy, her curmudgeonly
ex-husband of 30 years propels the zany and poignant events
forward, including hilarious burial plans, the expectations of
several orthodox rabbis, answers to long held secrets and
Nora’s meticulously pre-planned Seder. Winner of seven Ariel
Awards (Mexican Academy Awards) including Best Picture,
Best Original screenplay and Best Actor.
Comedy, Mexico, 92
minutes, Spanish, English subtitles.
Underwritten by Hagafen Cellars
SAVIORS IN THE NIGHT
Based on the true story of three German farm families who hid
and saved a Jewish family during Nazi rule, the film reveals the
complex relationships and emotional and physical hardships
of saviors and saved. Ultimately hopeful, this example of a new
self-reflective German film movement shows the potential for
the heart to care for all humankind. The names of the farmers
have been immortalized in Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. JFF audience
award winner.
Drama, Germany, 95 minutes, German,
French and English, English subtitles.
Underwritten by the Law Offices of Perry, Johnson, Anderson, Miller and Moskowitz, LLP
CAMERA OBSCURA
Growing up in late 19th century Buenos Aries, Gertrudis is a
disappointment to her mother from the moment of her birth.
As the invisible ugly duckling, she is compelled to create beauty
in everything she does, while remaining unseen. Married
off to an older Jewish rancher, her husband hires an itinerant
photographer for a family portrait. Through the photographer’s
eyes, Gertrudis becomes visible for the first time. This luminous,
artistic film uses archival and surrealistic photographs,
black and white film, and hand drawn animation.
Drama,
Argentina, 86 minutes, Spanish and Yiddish, English subtitles.
Underwritten by Berni Baxter, Coldwell Banker
HEY HEY IT'S ESTHER BLUEBERGER
In this coming-of-age comedy, Esther, a feisty outsider at her
posh private girls’ school, becomes desperate to fit in and
discover her true self at the time of her Bat Mitzvah. Secretly,
rebelling against her “perfect” upper middle class parents,
Esther befriends Sunni, a public school bad girl and her super
hip mom. Adopting a new identity, Esther becomes entangled
in a web of lies, betrayal and bullying, ultimately finding a
more honest self in the process. Actors include Keisha Castle-
Hughes, Toni Collette and Danielle Catanzariti (winner of AFI
Young Actors Award).
Comedy, Australia, 103 minutes, English.
