Annual film festival offers something for everyone with largest line-up yet
The Counterfeiters, the story of Saloman Sorowitsch, who was involved with the Nazis in the largest counterfeiting scheme in history, is one of 15 movies showing at the Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival, on now.
Tamar Barr, program director at Winnipeg’s Rady Jewish Community Centre, picks four must-see films playing at the 2009 Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival.
Blessed Is The Match: The Life and Death of Hannah Senesh (Hungary, Israel, U.S.A, Czech Republic, 2008)
Thursday, Mar. 19, 7:30 p.m.
This is the first documentary about Hannah Senesh, a World War II poet and diarist. We are allowed into the intimate Senesh family documents as well as hearing witness testimony to discover who this woman was and how she changed the face of poetry forever.
“This is the life story of a heroine. She did a lot to save the people around her. It is a must see.”
The Debt (Israel, 2007)
Saturday, Mar. 28, 9 p.m.
The secret service agents of Israel, the Mossad, capture a Nazi doctor and wish to bring him to trial in 1964. It is the cat and mouse chase of the Nazis and the Jews in reverse, and every moment that passes is another shock.
“The Debt is unique and an excellent thriller. It really brings us back to that time period.”
Someone To Run With (Israel, 2006)
Saturday, Mar. 21, 9 p.m.
This is a fast-paced story about two 17-year-olds, Assaf and Tamar, who are living two separate lives in modern day Jerusalem. Their journey into adulthood is an endurance test of their bravery and commitment. Together, they find themselves while finding a lover as well.
“It just has a great story line. It’s a mystery by [best-selling author] David Grossman.”
The Counterfeiters (Austria/Germany, 2007)
Tuesday, Mar. 30, 7:30 p.m.
The story of Saloman Sorowitsch, who was involved with the Nazis in the largest counterfeiting scheme in history, known as “Operation Bernhard.” Unsuspecting Jewish death camp prisoners were forced to help carry out the forging of millions of British pounds.
“This film was an Oscar winner in 2007 for best foreign film.”
All foreign films are shown with English subtitles.
Documentaries, coming-of-age stories, comedies, dramas and reinterpretations of tales from the Torah – all are part of the 2009 Winnipeg International Jewish Film Festival.
Presented by the Rady Jewish Community Centre in conjunction with The Asper Foundation, the festival runs from Mar. 18 to Mar. 31 and boasts a line-up of films from a number of countries.
“It’s just an opportunity for people to see great film,” said Tamar Barr, program director at the Rady Centre. “There is no better way to reach people than through film because people seem to relate a lot through film. They are drawn into it and at the same time they are entertained.”
The festival, which usually draws a crowd of 1,500, is now in its sixth year. The 2009 edition will be the largest yet, with 15 films from around the globe.
“There is not a unified theme that runs through each film,” Barr said. “They are all diverse. There is an array of genres from the family-friendly to the coming-of-age, cutting drama. Essentially, there is something for everyone.”
Organizers decided what to screen based on which films won awards, which films were new and which films were popular. Though they still had to consider their budget and availability, organizers wanted to make this year’s festival larger and more publicized than ever.
“All of these films speak about the Jewish experience in different ways,” Barr said. “Whether it is an intimate Holocaust experience story or a group of Israeli women’s stories who spin together to show how modern day life of a Jewish woman is, there are stories here that are relatable to everyone, not just Jewish men and women. We want people to come out and embrace it.”
