Jews on Film: Exploring Jewish Stories & Themes in Cinema

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

Daniel and Harry are joined by Dr. Jennifer Caplan, author of Funny You Don't Look Funny, to discuss 1988’s “Crossing Delancey,” directed by Joan Micklin Silver and starring Amy Irving and Peter Riegert.They discuss the film’s themes of tradition versus progress within Judaism, unpack how Sam represents, and ultimately subverts, the “Nice Jewish Boy” trope, and analyze how the film respects Izzy’s journey towards finding the right path for herself, without judgement.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.Buy Jenny's book Funny You Don't Look Funny onlineJenny Caplan on Twitter ________IMdBMovie TrailerConnect 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 writer and director Avishai Weinberger to discsuss the 2022 epic "RRR" directed by S. S. Rajamouli, and starring N.T. Rama Rao Jr. and Ram Charan.They discuss the Biblical scale of some of the film’s epic set pieces, the global reception of such a culturally specific film (and what that could mean for Jewish stories), and how the movie leans into earnest sentimentality without undercutting it for a joke.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.RRR Trailer - https://youtu.be/f_vbAtFSEc0RRR on IMdb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8178634/Follow Avishai Weinberger on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/avishaioddity/Follow Avishai Weinberger on Twitter - https://twitter.com/avishaiwConnect 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

In this special episode, recorded in March 2023, Daniel & Harry were invited to speak at the Jews at Microsoft group. During this virtual presentation, they go over the origins of the podcast, their favorite movies covered, and discuss common themes like Jewish coding, non-Jews playing Jews, Job like characters, and of course the stretches!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 & Harry are joined by comedian and actor Becky Braunstein to discuss the 2019 film of “Jojo Rabbit” directed by Taika Waititi starring Roman Griffin Davis, Thomasin McKenzie, and Scarlett Johansson.They discuss the idea of viewing this film as coming of age story vs a holocaust story, Elsa's depiction as a Jew in hiding with agency, their love for Yorkie, and so much more!As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2584384Trailer - https://youtu.be/tL4McUzXfFIFollow Becky Braunstein on Twitter - https://twitter.com/BeckyFromAlaskaFollow Becky Braunstein on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/beckybraunstein/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 & Harry are joined by writer, filmmaker, and festival curator Jeffrey Wengrofsky to discuss the 1948 version of “Oliver Twist” directed by David Lean and starring Sir Alec Guinness, John Howard Davies, and Robert Newton.The discuss the grotesque depiction of Alex Guiness' Fagin and how it reinforces harmful Jewish stereotypes, trace how the film’s plot fits into a Christian redemption narrative, and consider the choices made by this adaption as they compare to the 20+ versions that have appeared onscreen.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0040662/Trailer - https://youtu.be/oXkQGI_Pn0kFollow Jeffrey Wengrofsky on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/les.syndicatLearn more about Jeffrey's work - http://www.humansyndicate.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

Daniel & Harry are joined by Film and TV writer, producer and podcaster Phil Iscove of Podcast Like It’s to discuss Edward Norton’s 2000 directorial debut “Keeping the Faith,” starring Norton, Ben Stiller, and Jenna Elfman.They marvel at the unabashed depiction of religion and Jewish practice from a major studio release, discuss the tension between modernity and tradition within religion, and make some unexpected picks for their respective “most Jewish scenes” in the movie.As always, they close out the episode by ranking the film's "Jewishness" in terms of its cast & crew, content, and themes.IMDb - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0171433/Trailer - https://youtu.be/OABeT9MNtDwFollow Phil Iscove on Twitter - https://twitter.com/pmiscoveFollow Phil Iscove on Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pmiscove/Listen to Podcast Like It's... - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/podcast-like-its/id1316214754Connect 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