Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

Daniel and Harry welcome stand up and comic book creator Daniel Lobell to discuss the 2011 film "The Rabbi's Cat," directed by Joann Sfar and Antoine Delesvaux.Before diving into the film, they share some thoughts on how they are processing the news out of Israel and Gaza as well the rise of antisemitism in the US.Then they talk about the film’s visual and narrative approach to adapting the graphic novels, explore the way Judaism relies on language and communication to resolve its conflicts, and observe the way the film draws connections across social boundaries that are closer than the ones within.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.The Rabbi's Cat on IMDbThe Rabbi's Cat trailerFair Enough ComicsDaniel Lobell on TwitterDaniel Lobell on InstagramReconquistador FilmConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry welcome filmmaker Nira Burstein to discuss "The Pawnbroker," a 1964 film directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Rod Steiger.They unpack the film’s exploration of collective trauma and its consequences on the individual, consider the way the movie might be received by those more and less familiar with the Holocaust, and analyze how the film’s trailblazing editing techniques heighten Sol’s internal drama and put the audience in his head.Finally, they talk to Nira about her debut documentary feature, Charm Circle, now streaming on the Criterion Channel!As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.The Pawnbroker TrailerImdb PageWatch Charm Circle on the Criterion ChannelNira Burstein on TwitterNira Burstein on instagramConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry welcome producer and writer Nathan Cykiert to discuss Ari Aster's larger than life epic film, “Beau is Afraid” from 2023, starring Joaquin Phoenix.They consider the Jewishness inherent to the neuroticism and anxiety of the film’s titular Beau, as well as his relationship to his guilt-inducing mother (but don’t worry, they all love their Jewish mothers). They further unpack the Jewish connections to the use of water as a device throughout the film, and question the omnipresence and seeming control Beau’s mother Mona wields over his life.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb PageMovie TrailerNathan's LinksNathan Cykiert on TwitterNathan Cykiert on InstagramConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

For their 50ish Episode Spectacular, Daniel and Harry are joined by Leah Gottfried, creator of the acclaimed comedic web series “Soon by You,” to (finally) discuss the much requested “Fiddler on The Roof.” The film came out in 1971, was directed by Norman Jewish and stars Topol and Norma Crane.They explore the legacy of the film and how it has inspired the way the world at large thinks of Jews for over 50 years. They consider how the film’s themes of the tension between tradition and progress are as relevant as ever. And of course, they take the time to shout out some of their favorite songs from the beloved musical.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in term of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Fiddler on The Roof on IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067093/?ref_=ext_shr_lnkTrailer - https://youtu.be/gsDP-90j9x8?si=aKploYuwxI10ZGgHLeah's LinksDignity EntertainmentLeah Gottfried on InstagramWe Don't Talk About Haman music videoConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel & Harry recently had the opportunity to be guests on You're Missing Out to discuss the 1939 Yiddish film Tevye, starring Maurice Schwartz. Enjoy!"He's as accustomed to the whip as I am to poverty."You might know Sholem Aleichem's celebrated comedic hero of Yiddish literature, Tevye (or Tevya) from the musical Fiddler on the Roof. But decades earlier, titan of the Yiddish theatre scene Maurice Schwartz got a camera and a cast together and brought Aleichem's stories to the silver screen for the first time with Tevye.We teamed up with Daniel Zana & Harry Ottensoser from Jews on Film to discuss the significance of this, the first non-English film ever inducted into the National Film Registry. We look at how it reflects the culture of the Jewish diaspora of both Aleichem and Schwartz's era, the brief but impactful Yiddish Cinema movement, and of course...tradition!Follow You're Missing Out on TwitterListen to You're Missing OutConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel & Harry speak to Sammi Cohen for a bonus episode conversation about the film "You Are so not Invited to my Bat Mitzvah," streaming now on Netflix.Tune in to hear Sammi’s thoughts on Jewish humor, what the modern Jewish world looks like, and on the validity behind some of Daniel and Harry’s wildest stretches.Movie Trailer: https://youtu.be/LXciH__hbTwSammi’s Instagram: https://instagram.com/sammicohenConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry are joined by Elan Golod, director of "Nathan-ism," to discuss the 2008 film "Waltz with Bashir" directed by Ari Folman.They cover the film’s exploration of memory and its malleability, dive deep into the distinction between historical truth vs story truth (and its relation to Jewish Midrash and the Seder), and make the case for why this film might be more Israeli than strictly Jewish.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes._____________________Waltz with Bashir TrailerWaltz with Bashir on IMDb_____________________Nathan-ism websiteNathan-ism on Instagram_____________________Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry are joined by actor, comedian, and writer Julie Klausner to discuss the 1960 classic, “The Apartment” directed by Billy Wilder and starring Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine.They attempt to read the film’s protagonists as emblematic of the Jewish immigrant, marvel at the strong Jewish representation in the Dreyfuss characters and their promotion of “being a mensch,” and make the case that this may be one of the best movies “for the Jews.”As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.The Apartment on IMDbThe Apartment Movie TrailerJulie Klausner on Twitter Listen to Julie Klausner on the Double Threat PodcastConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry are joined by New Yorker staff writer Michael Schulman, author of Oscar Wars, to discuss about the 1950 classic film, "Born Yesterday" directed by George Cukor and starring Judy Holliday and William Holden.They talk about the film's journey from Broadway to the big screen and Judy Holliday's long campaign to be cast as the lead in the film. They also cover how "Born Yesterday" places value on being an educated person, how assimilation is depicted onscreen, and what the movie has to say about democracy and the political system in Washington D.C.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Follow Michael Schulman on TwitterFind Oscar Wars on AmazonBorn Yesterday on IMDB- https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0042276/Born Yesterday trailer on YouTube - https://youtu.be/QL3NsTHAQ8sConnect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod

Daniel and Harry are joined by comedian Eli Lebowicz to discuss the 1980 film "Airplane!" directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, and Jerry Zucker.They discuss the film’s layered, Talmudic approach to humor, uncover the Biblical origins of Jewish sarcasm, and consider how much longer the famous Jewish athletes leaflet would be in 2023!As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Airplane! on IMdb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080339/Airplane! Trailer - https://youtu.be/JWNBROLN8OcConnect with Eli LeibowiczTwitter - https://twitter.com/EliLebowiczWebsite - http://www.elicomedy.com/Connect with Jews on Film online:Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/jewsonfilm/Twitter - https://twitter.com/jewsonfilmpodYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@jewsonfilmTikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@jewsonfilmpod