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8th annual youngstown area JEWISH FILM FESTival History, humor will fill screen
By Guy D’astolfo
THis Year’s Youngstown Area Jewish Film Festival, which opens Wednesday, runs the gamut from comedy to documentary to the deadly serious.
Now in its eighth year, the festival — which is under the auspices of the Youngstown State University Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies — continues to grow.
“It is catching on beyond the core group,” said festival spokesperson Myra Benedikt. “We were so excited about the turnout last year. It just keeps growing.”
About 100 people bought tickets for three out of the four films shown last year, she said.
Though the festival aims to illuminate the Jewish experience with history and humor, it’s also known for the quality and universal appeal of the films it selects. That appeal goes well beyond the Jewish and YSU communities.
Three of the screenings will take place at Great USA Cinema in Niles; the other two will be at the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown.
First up is “The Little Traitor,” which is set against the birth of Israel in 1948. A British soldier (played by Alfred Molina) forms an unlikely bond with a militant young boy in the tale, which is both a coming-of-age story and a semi-documentary about Israel’s statehood. It uses actual footage of events surrounding the country’s declaration of independence.
Next is “Where I Stand: The Hank Greenspun Story” (Oct. 10). Anthony Hopkins narrates the film, which documents the life of Greenspun — a convicted gun runner, Las Vegas visionary, crusading newspaper publisher, target of the Watergate burglars and hero of Israel’s War of Independence. The film includes interviews with Shimon Peres, Steve Wynn, Kirk Kerkorian, Adnan Khashoggi and a collection of former gunrunners and Israeli freedom fighters. The short film “Pigeon” will be shown before “Greenspun.”
“The Infidel” (Oct. 14) is a British comedy starring Omid Djalili that pokes fun at historical hatreds. In the film, a Muslim man learns after his mother’s death that he not only was adopted at birth, but he is Jewish. He tumbles into an identity crisis before getting lessons in Jewishness from a drunken Jewish cabbie.
“The committee that was responsible for choosing the films thought that it hit on how crazy the absurdity of hysterical hatred is,” said Benedikt. “It doesn’t leave anyone unscathed. If you look beyond some of the seriousness of the hate and want to see it presented in a light fashion, but an important one, come see the movie.”
Benedikt called “The Infidel” a perfect family film.
The festival ends with “Saviors in the Night” (Oct. 17), a wrenching drama about the bond of community and family, set against the backdrop of the Holocaust. Despite being patriotic Germans and Nazi sympathizers, the farmers of the Westphalia region don’t think twice about hiding a Jewish family, saving it from certain death, and unintentionally becoming heroes.
“We are fortunate to have secured this film,” said Benedikt.
Tickets for the Youngstown Area Jewish Film Festival can be purchased in advance at the Jewish Community Center, 505 Gypsy Lane, and at the door before each screening. Tickets are $8 ($7 for seniors and $5 for students); festival passes are $24 ($21 for seniors, $15 for students).