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THE POWER OF FILMS Jewish festival entertains and educates
This year’s event offers a family movie, which it hasn’t had in a while.
YOUNGSTOWN — The Youngstown Area Jewish Film Festival opens Tuesday with free screenings of the powerful “Schindler’s List.”
Powerful, in fact, is a word that Myra Benedikt, chairwoman of the YAJFF, used repeatedly in describing the offerings in this year’s festival, which also include “Praying With Lior,” “Steel Toes,” “Knowledge is the Beginning” and “Jellyfish.”
The festival committee considered more than 20 films before making its selections in keeping with the festival’s goal: to enrich, educate and entertain a diverse community about the Jewish experience.
“Praying With Lior” is a documentary about Lior Liebling, a young boy with Down syndrome who has spent his entire life praying with abandon. While everyone agrees Lior is closer to God, he’s also considered a burden, a best friend, an inspiration and an embarrassment, depending on which family member is speaking.
Benedikt said “Praying With Lior” is good for families. “We haven’t had a family movie in recent years,” she noted.
“Steel Toes” is drama about a Canadian skinhead who is accused of a brutal hate crime against a Jew. His court-appointed lawyer — Oscar nominee David Straithairn — happens to be Jewish. The tense interaction between the two men eventually leads to understanding and respect, but at a highly personal price.
“Knowledge Is the Beginning” is a hybrid between a concert movie and a documentary about artistic diplomacy. It chronicles the rehearsals, performances and celebrations of the Jewish and Arab young adults in the Divan Orchestra. The Divan is the result of the friendship between Israeli pianist Daniel Barenboim and Palestinian writer Edward Said.
The final film, “Jellyfish,” is set in modern-day Tel Aviv and revolves around three women whose lives intersect for a moment at a wedding: the bride, a waitress and a Filipino who is a caretaker for an elderly guest.
“I’m curious to see the community’s reaction to this one,” said Benedikt. “It is a little like [2005 Best Picture winner] ‘Crash,’ in that disparate characters become intertwined, but it doesn’t come together in a trite way. You would never expect what happens. It is very different, and some might scratch their heads at it, but it is about the human condition and communication that we all strive for.” “Jellyfish” won the Camera d’Or prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.