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Hartford Jewish Film Fest: A Lively Lineup Docs, Comedies, Dramas

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Every year, the Mandell JCC Hartford Jewish Film Festival shows movies in a wide range of topics, as monumental as the Holocaust and as intimate as a relationship between mothers and children.

This year, the festival’s 20th anniversary, two of the standout films sit on either side of this range. One documentary focuses on musicians trying to build bridges between Israelis and Palestinians. Another is a comedy focusing on one woman’s search for direction in life.

The stars of both films, David Broza and Sas Goldberg, will attend festival screenings to discuss their movies and the careers that led to them. The festival runs from March 31 to April 10 and will present 17 feature films at locations in Hartford and West Hartford.

‘East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem’

In Israel, David Broza is a household name as a singer-songwriter. Broza is also a peace activist. He’s a goodwill ambassador to UNICEF and co-wrote “Together,” the theme song for UNICEF’s 50th anniversary. He has participated for decades in activities geared toward promoting peace in the Middle East. The new documentary “East Jerusalem, West Jerusalem” focuses on both facets of the life of Broza, who lives in Tel Aviv.

The film follows Broza and a cadre of Israeli and Palestinian musicians as they record an album together, songs of their own as well as “Jerusalem,” written by American superstar Steve Earle. The film is an extension of a passion Broza has had for years: working with musicians on both sides of the seemingly wide divide between the people of the region. “No class, no creed, no color, no nothing, just people,” he said.

“I had been mostly hanging out with Palestinian musicians in East Jerusalem, which is part of Israel. They speak Arabic and write Arab music. They are respected and known in the Arab world as leaders of the new contemporary Palestinian culture, which is just now on the rise,” he said. “They are wonderful people, all great artists. We have become almost like a family. We gather and have barbecues every other day or every week.”

<img loading="" class="lazyload size-article_feature" data-sizes="auto" alt="Documentary about Israeli musical star David Broza and his work with Palestinian musicians and American musician Steve Earle. Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles, and English. Followed by reception and CD signing and a conversation and mini-concert with Broza.
March 31, 7 p.m., at Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford; and April 10, 4:30 p.m. at at Bow Tie Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” title=”Documentary about Israeli musical star David Broza and his work with Palestinian musicians and American musician Steve Earle. Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles, and English. Followed by reception and CD signing and a conversation and mini-concert with Broza.
March 31, 7 p.m., at Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford; and April 10, 4:30 p.m. at at Bow Tie Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” data-src=”/wp-content/uploads/migration/2016/03/28/23Z4TPL2KRHBVPD7IXH5LPKELE.jpg”>
Documentary about Israeli musical star David Broza and his work with Palestinian musicians and American musician Steve Earle. Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles, and English. Followed by reception and CD signing and a conversation and mini-concert with Broza.
March 31, 7 p.m., at Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford; and April 10, 4:30 p.m. at at Bow Tie Hartford. Watch the trailer here.

The film’s theme song is sung by Broza and Wyclef Jean. Its lyrics emphasize what Broza emphasizes: the commonality of all people in all nations. “Same face in the Gaza is the same face I see out in California. Same face in Jericho is the same face I see down in Mexico. Same face in Tel Aviv is the same face I see out in New Jersey. So many places all share the same faces. East Jerusalem West Jerusalem Shalom Salam.”

Earle’s song, released in 2002, focuses on Jerusalem itself, its lyrics emphasizing both sorrow and hope: “I woke up this mornin’ and none of the news was good, and death machines were rumblin’ ‘cross the ground where Jesus stood, and the man on my TV told me that it had always been that way, and there was nothin’ anyone could do or say. And I almost listened to him. Yeah, I almost lost my mind. Then I regained my senses again and looked into my heart to find that I believe that one fine day all the children of Abraham will lay down their swords forever in Jerusalem.”

Broza continues to work with musicians from both sides of the divide. “I can never feel that I have done enough. We all have a responsibility. You can’t expect good things to happen if you’re not part of that calling. You can’t just point fingers and say ‘this could be better,'” he said.

“Conditions in the Middle East are not getting any better, but there is a community of people who totally get it. That’s huge,” he said. “Maybe I won’t see final peace everywhere. But it’s only going to grow.”

‘Are You Joking?’

Sas Goldberg is a charmer in “Are You Joking?,” which she co-wrote with Jake Wilson. Wilson also directs the comedy about a young woman whose life lacks focus, and who gloms onto improv comedy as a path to personal growth.

Wilson co-stars in the film, playing what he is in real life: Goldberg’s gay best friend. Their good-natured and energetic scenes together have the feel of genuine friendship.

Goldberg, a New Yorker, and Wilson, from Pittsburgh, met in their freshman years at the University of Michigan at a “pimps and ho’s” frat party. “It was a really classy joint,” Goldberg said.

Goldberg, a theater major, and Wilson, a musical theater major, hit it off. When they graduated in 2007, she returned to New York and he came with her.

In the movie, Wilson’s character, Billy, pushes Goldberg’s character, Barb, toward this new challenge. This reflects real life.

<img loading="" class="lazyload size-article_feature" data-sizes="auto" alt="A comedy about a young woman searching for her true calling. To be shown with the short "The Ten Plagues." Followed by a discussion with the film's star, Sas Goldberg.
April 4, 7 p.m., Mark Twain House, Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” title=”A comedy about a young woman searching for her true calling. To be shown with the short “The Ten Plagues.” Followed by a discussion with the film’s star, Sas Goldberg.
April 4, 7 p.m., Mark Twain House, Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” data-src=”/wp-content/uploads/migration/2016/03/28/ZMSSS7P24NDLFKAM4WBBK7DTVI.jpg”>
A comedy about a young woman searching for her true calling. To be shown with the short “The Ten Plagues.” Followed by a discussion with the film’s star, Sas Goldberg.
April 4, 7 p.m., Mark Twain House, Hartford. Watch the trailer here.

“A few years after college graduation, he said, ‘I have this idea for a film. I want you to star in it. Will you write it with me?'” Goldberg said. “I had never written a movie before. I never considered that in the realm of what I could do.”

Wilson’s first draft had Barb as a “Saturday Night Live” wannabe. But they couldn’t get permission to use the phrase “Saturday Night Live” in the movie. They didn’t want to make up a similar show and sound phony. The friends thought Barb might be relatable reaching for a lesser goal.

“As the story came to be, we wanted to make it more of a slice of life. The idea of a girl being on SNL is a grandiose dream,” Goldberg said. “A small accomplishment felt big in terms of how she thought of herself. It’s a smaller piece of the pie rather than a famous show.”

Barb’s goals were small, but the movie Goldberg and Wilson envisioned was big, too big, really, for a budget less than $500,000. She said they didn’t know enough about financing and logistics to realize their hopes were unrealistic. They forged ahead blindly and made the film they wanted.

“We were naive about how movies were made. The naivete worked in our benefit. We kind of had balls of steel,” Goldberg said. “If I knew then what I know now I would haver have asked the questions I did. I would have known that we’d never be able to shoot it for this amount of money. The movie has 57 speaking roles in 38 locations.”

It also has a giraffe, which they “cast” with the help of veteran theatrical animal trainer Bill Berloni of Haddam. “Originally it was going to be a bear, then a duck, then a giraffe,” she said. “We had no money for that. I don’t know what I was thinking.”

THE LINEUP

The Mandell JCC Hartford Jewish Film Festival runs from March 31 to April 10 with a lively lineup of narrative and feature documentaries and comedies and dramas. There are six venues: three movie theaters, a synagogue, a community center and the Mark Twain House. Tickets can be bought at hjff.org. Here’s the lineup:

EAST JERUSALEM, WEST JERUSALEM, a documentary about Israeli musical star David Broza and his work with Palestinian musicians and American musician Steve Earle. Hebrew and Arabic with subtitles, and English. Followed by reception and CD signing and a conversation and mini-concert with Broza. March 31, 7 p.m., at Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford; and April 10, 4:30 p.m. at Bow Tie Hartford.

KICKING OUT SHOSHANA, a comedy about a hotshot athlete who is punished for flirting with a gangster’s girlfriend. It stars Gal Gadot, who is playing Wonder Woman in next year’s new movie. Hebrew with subtitles. To be shown with the short “The Ten Plagues.” April 2, 9 p.m. at Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford, reception precedes the film, at 8 p.m.; April 6, 7 p.m.; Blue Criterion Cinemas, Back Square, West Hartford.

<img loading="" class="lazyload size-article_feature" data-sizes="auto" alt="A documentary about a woman's rocky relationship with her hypercritical mother. Followed by a discussion with the film's stars, Gayle and Mildred Kirschenbaum.
April 3, Spotlight Theatres, 39 Front St. in Hartford. Also Sunday, April 10, at 2:15 p.m. at Bow Tie Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” title=”A documentary about a woman’s rocky relationship with her hypercritical mother. Followed by a discussion with the film’s stars, Gayle and Mildred Kirschenbaum.
April 3, Spotlight Theatres, 39 Front St. in Hartford. Also Sunday, April 10, at 2:15 p.m. at Bow Tie Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” data-src=”/wp-content/uploads/migration/2016/03/28/6AEJLLIAMBGBBI4IDWQJ4YE5V4.jpg”>
A documentary about a woman’s rocky relationship with her hypercritical mother. Followed by a discussion with the film’s stars, Gayle and Mildred Kirschenbaum.
April 3, Spotlight Theatres, 39 Front St. in Hartford. Also Sunday, April 10, at 2:15 p.m. at Bow Tie Hartford. Watch the trailer here.

LOOK AT US NOW, MOTHER, a documentary about a woman’s rocky relationship with her hypercritical mother. Followed by a discussion with the film’s stars, Gayle and Mildred Kirschenbaum. April 3, 1 p.m., Spotlight Theatres in Hartford; April 10. 2:15 p.m., Bow Tie Hartford.

EVERY FACE HAS A NAME, a documentary about a man searching to identify every person he sees in a 1945 photo of concentration camp survivors. Swedish, Polish and Norwegian with subtitles, and English. To be shown with the short “Remember: Facing the Holocaust — Greater Hartford Stories of Survival.” April 3, 4 p.m., Spotlight Theatres, Hartford.

10% MY CHILD, a drama about a man who tries to win over a woman by befriending her daughter. Hebrew with subtitles. To be shown with the short “Bulmus.” April 3, 4 p.m., Spotlight Theatres, Hartford; April 7, 6 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford.

TO LIFE!, drama about a cabaret singer and a man on the lam bonding and helping each other through trauma. German with subtitles. April 3, 7:30 p.m., Spotlight Theatres, Hartford.

DOUGH, a comic drama about an old Jewish baker who takes in a young Muslim as an apprentice. April 3, 7:30 p.m., Spotlight Theatres, Hartford; April 10, 4:30 p.m., Bow Tie Hartford.

<img loading="" class="lazyload size-article_feature" data-sizes="auto" alt="A documentary about the food culture of Israel, starring top chef Michael Solomonov. A la carte reception precedes the film, at 5:30 p.m., and Solomonov will sign copies of his book.
April 4, 7 p.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” title=”A documentary about the food culture of Israel, starring top chef Michael Solomonov. A la carte reception precedes the film, at 5:30 p.m., and Solomonov will sign copies of his book.
April 4, 7 p.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” data-src=”/wp-content/uploads/migration/2016/03/28/OGI7BVF4JFD77MLPXFZWAJPFEQ.jpg”>
A documentary about the food culture of Israel, starring top chef Michael Solomonov. A la carte reception precedes the film, at 5:30 p.m., and Solomonov will sign copies of his book.
April 4, 7 p.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford. Watch the trailer here.

IN SEARCH OF ISRAELI CUISINE, a documentary about the food culture of Israel, starring Michael Solomonov, who is a finalist for the 2016 James Beard Outstanding Chef Award. A la carte reception precedes the film, at 5:30 p.m., and Solomonov will sign copies of his book “Zahav: A World of Israeli Cuisine,” which was nominated for a 2016 James Beard Foundation book award for international cookbooks. April 4, 7 p.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC in West Hartford.

ARE YOU JOKING? comedy about a young woman searching for her true calling. To be shown with the short “The Ten Plagues.” Followed by a discussion with the film’s star, Sas Goldberg. April 4, 7 p.m., Mark Twain House, Hartford.

THE MUSES OF ISAAC BASHEVIS SINGER, a documentary about the women who inspired the writer. To be shown with the short “70 Hester Street.” Followed by a discussion. April 5, 1 p.m., Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford.

IMBER’S LEFT HAND, a documentary about artist Jon Imber, who paints despite having amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. April 5, 7 p.m., Emanuel Synagogue, West Hartford.

An exhibit of work by John Imber and his widow, Jill Hoy, will be at Chase Family Gallery at the Mandell JCC until April 16.

<img loading="" class="lazyload size-article_feature" data-sizes="auto" alt="A comedy about an old-fashioned couple challenged when each of their daughters chooses a man of a different race or religion to marry. French with subtitles. To be shown with the short "Some Vacation."
April 6, 7 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford; April 10, 2:15 p.m., Bow Tie Cinemas, Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” title=”A comedy about an old-fashioned couple challenged when each of their daughters chooses a man of a different race or religion to marry. French with subtitles. To be shown with the short “Some Vacation.”
April 6, 7 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford; April 10, 2:15 p.m., Bow Tie Cinemas, Hartford. Watch the trailer here.” data-src=”/wp-content/uploads/migration/2016/03/28/MOXX2M6C4BFOLK4IZPB5HGWQRY.jpg”>
A comedy about an old-fashioned couple challenged when each of their daughters chooses a man of a different race or religion to marry. French with subtitles. To be shown with the short “Some Vacation.”
April 6, 7 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford; April 10, 2:15 p.m., Bow Tie Cinemas, Hartford. Watch the trailer here.

SERIAL BAD WEDDINGS, a comedy about an old-fashioned couple challenged when each of their daughters chooses a man of a different race or religion to marry. French with subtitles. To be shown with the short “Some Vacation.” April 6, 7 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford; April 10, 2:15 p.m., Bow Tie Cinemas, Hartford.

THE KIND WORDS, a drama about three siblings who suspect that their late mother’s lover was their real father. Hebrew and French with subtitles and English. April 6, 7 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford.

ONCE IN A LIFETIME, a drama about a teacher teaching her class about Nazi Germany. April 7, 8:15 p.m., Criterion Cinemas, Blue Back Square, West Hartford.

ROCK IN THE RED ZONE, a documentary about the Israeli city of Sderot, which has a thriving musical culture despite sitting in “the bomb shelter capital of the world.” Hebrew with subtitles and English. Preceded by a reception at 8 p.m. April 9, 9 p.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC, Hartford.

RABIN IN HIS OWN WORDS, documentary about Yitzhak Rabin, the former Israeli prime minister who was assassinated. Preceded by brunch and discussion at 10 a.m. April 10, 11 a.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC, West Hartford.

THE LAST MENTSCH, a drama about an Auschwitz survivor who suppresses his Jewish heritage and then wants to get it back. German, Hungarian, Hebrew and Yiddish with subtitles and English. Followed by the work-in-progress documentary “Who Will Write Our History.” April 10, 7:30 p.m., Herbert Gilman Theater, Mandell JCC, West Hartford.