Click on Guest Speakers below to read bio where available. Ahead of Time No trailer available Directed by Robert Richman USA, Israel 2009 73 minutes English, Hebrew Wednesday, May 5 at 7:30pm - Guest Speaker Marshall Fine Thursday, May 6 at 1:00pm  Vibrant and articulate nonagenarian Ruth Gruber narrates this affecting portrait of her remarkable 70-year career as a foreign correspondent, photojournalist, author, and humanitarian. Gruber, born in Brooklyn, escorted Holocaust refugees to America in 1944, covered the Nuremberg trials in 1946, and documented the voyage of the ship Exodus in 1947, emerging as the eyes and conscience of the world with her lifelong devotion to assisting Jewish refugees. Sponsored by The Benmosche Family  A Matter of Size  Directed by Erez Tadmor and Sharon Maymon Israel 2009 92 minutes Hebrew with subtitles Sunday, May 2 at 7:30pm 
Beloved by audiences on the Jewish film festival circuit! In this endearing comedy, four overweight Israeli friends are fed up with ridicule and diet obsession and decide to direct their considerable energy and passion to sumo wrestling, where their large size is both honored and celebrated. Under their coach’s stern guidance, they learn joyous lessons about self-acceptance, determination, and commitment. Winner of many international festival awards. Sponsored by Micki & Jim Leader and Leader & Berkon, LLP; Town of Ramapo, Christopher P. St. Lawrence, Supervisor  Camera Obscura Directed by Maria Victoria Menis Argentina, France 2008 86 minutes Spanish, Yiddish with subtitles Thursday, May 13 at 7:30pm  Combining gorgeously shot live action, still photographs, and hand-drawn color animation, this innovative film tells a story about an ugly duckling growing up in a colony of Jewish immigrant farmers in turn-of-the-century Argentina. Married off to an older gentleman, Gertrudis hides in the shadows raising a happy family until an encounter with a French photographer reveals her own unique talents and yearnings. A beautiful, understated romance. Sponsored by Dellwood Country Club  Eli & Ben Directed by Ori Ravid Israel 2008 94 minutes Hebrew with subtitles Tuesday, May 11 at 7:30pm Eli is 12 years old and his world is turned upside down when his father, the City Architect of Herzelya, is charged with taking bribes. Eli is convinced that his father is innocent and sets out to see that his father is released. He faces injustice, corruption, and pretence among both adults and children and will have to shape his own principles and stick to them. In the process he re-discovers his father and tastes the bitter sting of first love. Sponsored by The Irgang Family  Hey Hey It's Esther Blueburger Directed by Cathy Randall Guest Speaker: Australia 2008; 103 minutes Saturday, May 8 at 9:30pm Esther Blueburger’s quest begins when she escapes from her Bar Mitzvah party and is befriended by Sunni, the effortlessly cool girl who is everything Esther thinks she wants to be. With the help of Sunni, Esther goes AWOL from her ordinary life and leaves behind her malfunctioning Jewish family to hang out with Sunni’s far breezier and super-hip single mum Mary and attend Sunni’s forbidden public school as a Swedish exchange student. Sponsored by Rockland Community College  Inside Hana’s Suitcase Directed by Larry Weinstein Canada/Czech Republic 2009 90 minutes English Tuesday, May 25 at 7:30pm 
The delivery of a battered suitcase to Fumiko Ishioka at the Tokyo Holocaust Museum begins the true-life mystery that became the subject of Karen Levine’s best-selling book Hana’s Suitcase. The suitcase came from the Auschwitz Museum and had Hana Brady’s name painted on it. Larry Weinstein’s masterful film follows Fumiko’s search to discover the details of Hana’s life, which leads to the discovery of her brother George in Toronto. As small children they had been sent to Thereisenstadt for being Jewish after the Nazis invaded Czechoslovakia in 1939. A superb musical score by Alexina Louie and Alex Pauk, coupled with dramatic reenactments stunningly shot by Horst Zeidler, catches us by the heart to invoke the tragedy of the times. The voices of children from Japan, Canada, and the Czech Republic telling Hana’s story are woven around the drama, along with George’s memories and Fumiko’s quest, to create a film of astonishing power and hope. Sponsored by Orange & Rockland Utilities  Jump Directed by Joshua Sinclair Starring Patrick Swayze Austria 2007; 102 minutes Thursday, May 6 at 7:30pm A psychological drama revealing the extraordinary circumstances behind the unjust murder trial of the young Jew, Philippe Halsman, who would later become the most sought after celebrity portrait photographer of his generation. Set in 1928 Austria during the rise of fascism, the film documents the troubled relationship between Philippe and his father, the events leading to his father’s death and the relationship with his Jewish attorney (Swayze). It focuses a sharp but delicate eye upon the anti-Semitic atmosphere that quickly led to Philippe’s conviction. Sponsored by Birbrower & Beldock, P.C.  Killing Kasztner: The Jew Who Dealt With Nazis  Directed by Gaylen Ross USA 2008 120 minutes Hebrew, English with subtitles Wednesday, May 12 at 7:30pm Guest Speaker: Director, Gaylen Ross One of the most provocative and acclaimed documentaries in the festival. It’s the shocking tale of Rudolf Kasztner, who single-handedly negotiated with Eichmann to save 1,600 Hungarian Jews in 1944—and succeeded. But 12 years later, having been accused in an Israeli courtroom of selling his soul to the devil, he was assassinated in broad daylight. A deep investigation into the thorny definition of heroism, the intricacies of Israeli politics, and the complexities of Jewish identity. Winner, Audience Award, Boston Jewish Film Festival. Sponsored by Comfort Inn & Suites, Nanuet; Holocaust Museum and Study Center  Menachem & Fred Directed by Ronit Kertsner & Ofra Tevet Guest Speaker: Israel 2008; 90 minutes; English, German and Hebrew with subtitles Friday, May 21 at 1:00pm  Two Jewish brothers from a small German town are separated during the war while living at a French orphanage. Shortly after the war, the older brother, Fred, then 16 – left for America and found that assimilation was easier than his Jewish identity. The younger brother, Menachem, then 13, made his way to Palestine and continued to live a traditional Jewish life. Each had many unresolved issues with the other, including feelings of abandonment and guilt. Only after 60 years were the brothers able to reunite, and this story, explains how that event happened. Sponsored by Fountain View at College Road  Oy Vey! My Son is Gay! Directed by Evgeny Afineevsky USA 2009; 90 minutes; English Saturday, May 15 at 9:30pm Guest Speaker: Director, Evgeny Afineevsky Every Friday night, the Hirsch’s, a Jewish family living in the North Shore of Long Island, invite another “perfect” girl for Shabbat dinner in hopes that their son, Nelson (John Lloyd Young), will marry a nice Jewish girl. When Shirley (Lainie Kazan) and Martin (Saul Rubinek) once again set their son up on a date, Nelson reveals that he is already seeing someone. Shirley and Martin are thrilled and can’t wait to meet the lucky lady…until they realize “she’s” not a woman at all. Also starring Carmen Electra and Vincent Pastore. Sponsored by The Dorfman Family; Volunteer Counseling Services  Saviors in the Night Only German Trailer available Directed by Ludi Boeken Germany, France 2009 95 minutes German, French, English Tuesday, May 4 at 7:30pm The film everyone’s been talking about, back after two sold-out screenings in January! The riveting real-life drama of a Jewish family that found refuge among German farmers for nearly three years during WWII. Based on the memoirs of 97-year-old Marga Spiegel, it’s a nuanced account of rural life as well as a rich portrait of the brave farmers, whose names have been immortalized at Yad Vashem in Israel. A powerful tale with an extraordinary cast. Sponsored by Sue & Arnie Garelick  Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness No trailer available Directed by Diane Estelle Vicari and Robert Kirk USA 2001; 103 minutes; English Monday, May 17 at 7:30pm  A compelling and inspirational tale of the “Japanese Schindler,” Chiune Sugihara. In the face of the Nazi onslaught in Europe, at great risk to his career and life, he single-handedly saved more than 2,000 lives using his power as a diplomat to rescue fleeing Jewish refugees. This award-winning documentary tells the remarkable story of Sugihara and his family, and chronicles the fascinating relationship between the Japanese and the Jews during the 1930s and ‘40s. Sugihara: Conspiracy of Kindness is a celebration of the selfless humanitarian spirit and a testament that one person can make a difference. Sponsored by Cathy & Bert Distelburger  Wedding Song Directed by Karin Albou France, Tunisia 2008 100 minutes French, Arabic with subtitles Saturday, May 22 at 9:30pm Tuesday, May 25 at 1:00pm Guest Speaker: Rabbi Joshua Gruenberg, Congregation Sons of Israel, Nyack Tunisian-French director, actress, and award-winning writer Karin Albou (La Petite Jerusalem) deftly explores themes of female sexuality and the intersection of Jewish and Arab cultures in this beautifully rendered drama. Set in 1942 Tunis against the backdrop of Allied bombs and the Nazi occupiers, two teenagers’ friendship is threatened while Jewish-Muslim relations are tested by politics and the pressures of survival. This movie has sexual content. Sponsored by Lynn & Shelly Goldstein; Rockland Jewish Reporter; Marc Aaron Glatt Kosher Caterers and Classic Caterers; 2nd Show Sponsored by Ilse & John Lang  William Kunstler: Disturbing the Universe Directed by Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler USA 2009 87 minutes English Wednesday, May 26 at 7:30pm Guest Speaker: Director, Sarah Kunstler Filmmakers Emily Kunstler and Sarah Kunstler explore the life of their father, the late radical civil rights lawyer. In the 1960s and 70s, William Kunstler fought for civil rights with Martin Luther King Jr. and represented the famed "Chicago 8" activists who protested the Vietnam War. To his daughters, it seemed that he was at the center of everything important that had ever happened. But when they were growing up, Kunstler represented some of the most reviled members of society, including rapists and assassins. This powerful film recounts the historic causes that Kunstler fought for and reveals a man who took enormous risks so that justice could serve all.  Yoo Hoo Mrs. Goldberg Directed by Aviva Kempner USA 2009 92 minutes English Sunday, May 23 at 7:30pm Guest Speaker: Adam Berg, Gertrude Berg's grandson This is the humorous and eye-opening story of television pioneer Gertrude Berg. She was the creator, principal writer, and star of The Goldbergs, a popular radio show which became televisions very first character-driven domestic sitcom in 1949. Berg received the first Best Actress Emmy in history and paved the way for women in the entertainment industry. Sponsored by the Yetta Brenner Memorial Fund, endowed by Marilyn & Abraham Kleinman; Jewish Federation of Rockland; Linda & Jim Gerstley and Advanced Radiation Oncology Services at Nyack Hospital  |
     Films subject to change. Event Co-Chars: Micki Leader Evan Kuperman |
